Judicial Hellholes

Belleville News Democrat, via Capitol Fax: Chamber of Commerce Rankings:

The Chamber released its annual "legal fairness" ranking of the states. The survey of 1,400 attorneys by Harris Interactive ranked Delaware, Nebraska, Virginia, Iowa and Connecticut at the top of the list. The bottom five: West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Hawaii. Illinois ranks sixth from the bottom.

American Tort Reform Association, Judicial Hellholes (from last December) Illinois has the dubious distinction of 3 of the top 5 worst:

Judicial Hellholes are places that have a disproportionately harmful impact on civil litigation. Litigation tourists, guided by their personal injury lawyers seek out these places because they know they will produce a positive outcome - an excessive verdict or settlement, a favorable precedent, or both.

Illinois can boast of Cook County (#2), Madison County (#4, formerly #1) and St. Clair County (#5, formerly #2). We are in unenlightened company. Diane from downstate Respublica has more on this story.

And who is one of the trial lawyers' best friends? Our own Senator Dick Durbin:
Tribune:

Durbin's federal PAC, Prairie PAC, which is also his vehicle for supporting local candidates, includes among its contributors such Washington interests as power lobbyist Tommy Boggs and the trial lawyers lobby.