Part 14 - Criminal Cases Generally

    All preliminary hearings in felony cases are to be held within 30 days of the arrest of an accused. Preliminary hearings may be continued beyond the 30 day period only upon a showing of exceptional circumstances which warrant delay.

    [Adopted May 17, 1976, effective July 1, 1976.]

    Any demand for trial made in felony or misdemeanor cases by a defendant pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 38, Section 103-5, Illinois Revised Statutes [725 ILCS 5/103-5], shall be in written form. No demand for trial shall be accepted by the Court nor recorded by the Clerk unless filed in accordance with this rule. The original of the written demand shall be filed at the time of the demand with the Clerk and made part of the Court file and a copy of such demand shall be served upon the State's Attorney in open court.

    [Adopted February 25, 1977, effective March 1, 1977.]

    (a) A copy of the inventory of all instruments, articles, or things seized in a search shall be delivered to the judge before whom the arrested person is taken and the judge to whom the inventory is delivered shall enter an order for their custody, pending further proceedings.

    (b) Exhibits received in evidence, shall be retained by the offering party unless otherwise ordered by the trial judge.

    (c) Impounded evidence shall be held by the Clerk for five years after final disposition of the case unless released during that time by order of the Presiding Judge of the Division or District in which the trial was conducted.

    (d) After the expiration of five years after final disposition of the case, the exhibits may be destroyed by order of the Presiding Judge of the Division or District in which the trial was conducted.

    [Adopted August 29, 1980, effective September 1, 1980.]