Judge Aaron Jaffe: Reforming Illinois: A Progressive Tackles State Government1970-2015

Judge Aaron Jaffe: Reforming Illinois is an oral history of Aaron Jaffes legislative judicial and executive branch careers. It is also a story of how the author met Judge Jaffe and gained wisdom from a master politician operating in one of Americas most notorious political battlegrounds. As legislator Jaffe changed rape laws to reflect victims perspectives. Though white he was recruited to the Black Caucus because of a better voting record than other legislators black or white. As judge he presided over divorce laws he passed as legislator and in Chancery Court preserved the Auditorium Theatre for Roosevelt University. As chair of the Illinois Gaming Board he kept Illinois from adding other episodes to its scandal-ridden traditions. In mutual appreciation Aaron Jaffe listened to stories of genuine characters in Illinois politics that defy the imagination of fiction writers. Their hilarious foibles machinations and insights appear in this volume alongside Judge Jaffes witty observations about humans as political animals.