Drug judge scandal rocks St. Clair County

When newly sworn in St. Clair County (IL) Associate Judge Joseph Christ dropped dead at a Pike County hunting lodge cabin back on March 10, authorities first assumed that it was from a massive heart attack.

However, autopsy and toxicology results have revealed that he died from “cocaine intoxication” with drugs found under his body and paraphernalia discovered in the cabin.

The hunting lodge was owned by the parents of Judge Michael Cook, who found Christ’s body and alerted police of his buddy’s demise.

That was just the beginning of an even more dynamic drug scandal which has become an “ongoing investigation,” in the words of U.S. Attorney Steve Wigginton.

The impact is bombshell-like, with the much-publicized arrest of Circuit Judge Michael Cook outside the home of a friend and former drug defendant, Sean McGilvery, and his subsequent arraignment in East St. Louis federal court on charges of being a heroin user in possession of a firearm.

Cook – ironically sporting a “Bad is my middle name” T-shirt and cut-off shorts – was ordered to enter drug treatment, surrender his passport and avoid drugs by U.S. Magistrate Clifford Proud. Cook has since resigned his judgeship.

McGilvery was also arrested and later accused of pooling his money with a “confidential source” who made numerous trips to Chicago to purchase heroin.

Then there’s St. Clair County probation officer James Fogarty, who told FBI Agent Joe Murphy that he sold cocaine to both Christ and Cook and used drugs with them as well.

Fogarty alleges that he sold Cook and Christ an “eight ball of cocaine” (an eighth of an ounce) the day before Christ was found dead.

And what’s a good scandal without a little hypocrisy? Court records show that not only did Cook represent his buddy McGilvery in an auto accident lawsuit back in 1999, but also sat as judge in a possession of cocaine case against McGilvery 12 years later, without disqualifying himself.

With all of this judicial partying, conflicts of interest and scandalous behavior, St. Clair County Chief Judge John Baricevic claims that he was clueless to any improprieties on the part of his judges.

In 2011, Baricevic’s own son, Charles Baricevic, defended Sean McGilvery in a drug case only to have it land in the courtroom of Judge Michael Cook, who summarily dismissed it on March 19, 2012.

Could it be that U.S. Attorney Wigginton is beginning to unravel and expose a “frat house” mindset and culture in the St. Clair County judicial system?

Wigginton has boldly advised anyone with information: “It’s better for you to come forward than for us to come and find you.”

If I were a crooked judge or one of their cronies, I’d take him at his word.

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