Judge — March 9, 1929 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *Judge* magazine critiques Chicago police corruption during Prohibition era. The central image depicts Lady Justice presiding over a courtroom where police officers are literally fighting and brawling on the floor—overturning furniture and creating chaos. The satire points to the Chicago Police Department's notorious corruption and violence, particularly their involvement in bootlegging operations and organized crime during Prohibition (1920-1933). Rather than maintaining order, the officers are shown as lawless themselves, destroying the very justice system they're supposed to protect. The contrast between the idealized statue of Justice above and the violent mayhem below underscores the gap between the law's noble intentions and Chicago's brutal police reality—a well-documented problem of that era.