Former judge arrested in domestic abuse case

March 13, 2007
BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Legal Affairs Reporter
Former Cook County Judge Oliver Spurlock was arrested Sunday after his former girlfriend accused him of shoving her as she tried to move her belongings out of his apartment, according to police and the Cook County state's attorney's Office.
Spurlock made headlines when he was thrown off the bench in 2001 for allegedly sexually harassing four female prosecutors in his court. He was never criminally charged with harassment and so keeps his $54,000-a-year pension. But the prosecutors' testimony before the Illinois Courts Commission convinced members that Spurlock was "an embarrassment to the robe."
Last year he was charged with punching an ex-girlfriend several times in the face. That charge was stricken when the ex-girlfriend did not appear in court.
Spurlock's attorney, Eugene Pincham, said Monday: "The girl is telling a lie. She has been stalking him, following him around. She said she was going to embarrass him." It was the same ex-girlfriend both times and neither charge is true, Pincham said.
Spurlock was released on $5,000 bond and is due back in court April 12. In addition to domestic abuse, he is charged with not having a firearms identification card because a weapon was found in his home.
apallasch@suntimes.com