Former Cook County Judge Patricia Martin Finches at least $246,000 from WWII Vet Oscar Wilkerson Jr.

Retired judge accused of bilking Tuskegee Airman asks to be disbarred, citing evidence in the case

Patricia Martin, the former presiding judge of the Juvenile Court’s child protection division, filed a motion with the Supreme Court requesting “that the Court enter an order striking her name from the Roll of Attorneys.”

JUN 28, 2023 | REPUBLISHED BY LIT: JUN 29, 2023

A retired Cook County judge accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings and retirement money from a former Tuskegee Airman has asked the state Supreme Court to disbar her, citing evidence in the case.

Patricia Martin, the former presiding judge of the Juvenile Court’s child protection division, filed a motion Monday with the Supreme Court requesting “that the Court enter an order striking her name from the Roll of Attorneys.”

The former judge’s motion comes nearly a month after the state’s Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission filed a complaint accusing her of taking at least $246,000 from Oscar Wilkerson Jr., whose finances she was asked to help manage as he entered a senior home.

Martin used more than a $100,000 of those funds to purchase cryptocurrency and later made false statements to Wilkerson and others to hide her theft, according to the complaint.

In a separate filing Monday, Martin admitted that the allegations in the ARDC complaint would be proven if a hearing was held in her case, writing that “the evidence would clearly and convincingly establish the facts and conclusions of misconduct set forth in the statement of charges.”

Wilkerson was the last known surviving member of the famed Black aviation combat unit known as the Tuskegee Airmen whose competence and bravery in World War II helped pave the way for desegregation in the military. He was presented a Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush along with other surviving members

After his service, Wilkerson worked for Chicago area radio stations.

As Wilkerson’s health declined in his final years, his friend Dr. Maceo R. Ellison was granted power of attorney and he appointed Martin, the niece of Wilkerson’s former wife, to “supervise and manage” Wilkerson’s financial affairs in 2020, according to a court filings in an ongoing civil case against Martin.

Then last summer, Wilkerson got a notice saying he owed $41,296.10 to the senior home where he was living for nonpayment and he learned that his checking and investment accounts had been “emptied.” It was also unclear where his Social Security and pension payments were being deposited.

Wilkerson, 96, then sued Martin, accusing her of taking advantage of him as he sought to get back his money, plus damages.

He died of natural causes in February.

In a default judgement in May, Circuit Judge Anna Demacopoulos ordered Martin to pay more than $1.2 million in damages, fees and court costs after Martin failed to appear in court, answer questions about the money and to hand over records.

A day later, the ARDC filed its complaint.

The former judge is scheduled to next appear in court on Thursday in the civil case, where Wilkerson’s attorneys have stated they are in talks with the attorney general’s office and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office regarding a possible criminal investigation into Martin’s use of Wilkerson’s funds.

The judge could also appoint a special prosecutor to conduct an investigation, according to a filing by Wilkerson’s attorney in the circuit court Monday.