Frivolous Lawfare Against IL FFL Part 4: Judge Ortiz
- Sigiloso1776
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
If you’ve been following this series regarding a frivolous lawsuit in which Everytown For Gun Safety is running the show (that a judge ruled can proceed) based on the 2022 Highland Park, IL shooting, you’re already aware of the case, the Mayor admitting the gun was legally purchased and transferred and also the odd stonewalling of a narrow FOIA request to the City of Highland Park. Those articles, in order, are here:
Now, with all this, the fact the judge, Judge Jorge Ortiz, created national headlines for allowing this case to even proceed.
The Highland Park suits earlier this year largely survived Smith & Wesson’s motions to dismiss, with Lake County Circuit Judge Jorge Ortiz rejecting their argument that PLCAA shielded it entirely.
But specific questions about proximate cause and PLCAA were recently allowed to go up to the state appellate court. Illinois higher courts haven’t directly addressed certain issues of PLCAA immunity or the constitutionality of the state’s Firearm Industry Responsibility Act.
Answers from the appeals court could determine how or whether the Highland Park case moves forward, Ortiz wrote. Meanwhile, the underlying case will proceed, and attorneys are anticipating a possible trial date in early 2027.
Some plaintiffs in the suits are represented by Everytown Law. Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates gun-safety measures, is backed by Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg Law is operated by entities controlled by Michael Bloomberg.
The cases are Roberts v. Smith & Wesson Brands, Ill. Cir. Ct., No. 22LA00000487 and City of Chicago v. Glock, Ill. Cir. Ct., No. 2024CH06875.
Now, Judge Ortiz (who ran as a Republican when he was a district judge multiple times) himself doesn’t have any direct connections to gun control or any parties in the case, but there seems to be some interesting political donations and perhaps some “friendly” career advancements at play. Do you remember our investigations into Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Rochford, who was JB Pritzker’s pick (and who he broke his own campaign finance reform law to bankroll)? Rochford was also funded by Everytown For Gun Safety due to her stance on gun control. She is also the reason the IL AWB was upheld. Lots to see on her in the stories below, which caused national news due to the conflicts of interest. In fact, she even LOBBIED for the AWB law with Everytown/Moms Demand Action before it became law just two days after being sworn in to the IL Supreme Court!
Stories on that mess (in order) below:
Now, what does this all have to do with Judge Jorge Ortiz? Well, for one, they served together in the same court (19th district on Lake County, IL) as judges before Rochford got on the IL Supreme Court. In fact, in 2022, Rochford was a candidate for ILSC and Ortiz was up for retention. They both “won”. Here’s the BAR talking about both and endorsing both. Old Jorge Ortiz seems to have a bad temperament though, which explains his recent (8/12/26) behavior in court where he allowed Everytown to force Smith & Wesson to produce all M&P 15 ads so they (Everytown/plaintiffs) can cherry pick which ad they THINK triggered Robert Crimo III to commit the mass shooting (yes, they can’t point to a singular ad, which this case is based on S&W advertising (as well as Bud’s and Red Dot Arms transferring legally) and Everytown hasn’t picked a single ad and the judge has allowed a phishing expedition to find one even if it’s NOT anything Crimo saw)….
During this election cycle, can you guess who Judge Ortiz donated to? Someone he looks up to and respects, of course.
Now, being that they both served on the same court together, I’m sure they became great colleagues and had a good working relationship and were even possibly friends. Google AI seems to confirm this, and show that Jorge respects this “upstanding woman” greatly.
Oh, that’s right. Justice Rochford helped get him a position (the chair) with IL Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice. What a nice thing to happen for him.
And Justice Liz Rochford’s bio confirming the above:
Justice Rochford was appointed as Associate Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Lake County (Waukegan) in December 2012, and was assigned to hear criminal matters, family law matters and in probate presiding over decedent’s estates and guardianships of minors and disabled adults. In response to the Supreme Court’s mandate on Access to Justice, Judge Rochford took the lead on developing and initially presiding over a courtroom dedicated to Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs) in family law. Justice Rochford was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court from the Second Judicial District in 2022.
This is just all food for thought. The Judicial Branch in IL is a political branch in which voting happens for getting to be a judge/justice and also to retain a seat. Judge Ortiz obviously plays the game, and from donations, although not an insane amount, to former colleague Liz Rochford (and not the GOP candidate for SC in that race), and then him getting a position on a ILSC committee, which advances his “qualifications” and resume, it’s at least worth bringing attention to, especially since the ILSC will be the final stop for this case if it doesn’t get tossed beforehand, and we all know what will happen in the ILSC (plantiffs will get the ruling they want).
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