Former judge named Illinois legislative inspector general

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois General Assembly has approved a former appellate judge to be permanent legislative inspector general and investigate complaints against lawmakers.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports that a unanimous vote by the House on Thursday made Carol Pope's appointment official.

Raymond Republican state Rep. Avery Bourne is chairwoman of the Legislative Ethics Commission. She says Pope was the commission's unanimous choice.

Pope was Menard County state's attorney from 1984 to 1991. She then served as circuit judge until 2008 when she was appointed and then re-elected as an appellate court justice.

Pope is the first permanent inspector in four years. She replaces Julie Porter. Porter is a former federal prosecutor named to the post temporarily after a fracas in 2017 over the handling of sexual harassment complaints against lawmakers.

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Information from: The State Journal-Register, http://www.sj-r.com