News Room

Eight participants in the Circuit Court of Cook County’s mental health court program and two participants in the drug court program will graduate in a joint ceremony at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse this week, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. 

A recent claim that all those accused of violent crimes are “guilty” and should be in jail prior to trial is wrong on both the law and the facts, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said on Tuesday.

Judge Evans condemned the tragic wave of violent crime that has afflicted Chicago and other American cities so far this year. “Some of the victims have been successful young participants in my court programs and looked forward to full and meaningful lives before being shot and killed,” he said.

Six participants in the Circuit Court of Cook County’s nationally recognized drug court program will graduate in a ceremony at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Thursday, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. 

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered to enforce less than half as many evictions in recent months, compared to the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. County officials point to the decline as a reflection of the effectiveness of County legal aid efforts and rental assistance on behalf of both landlords and tenants.

Representatives of retail and other merchant associations expressed surprise and satisfaction at the high conviction rate for those charged with retail theft/smash and grab crimes in Cook County, following a meeting last month with Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

The Rehabilitative Alternative Probation and Women’s Rehabilitative Alternative Probation ((W)RAP) Drug Court Program has been named one of just 10 national mentor treatment courts by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the U.S. Department of Justice. The program will receive an award marking the distinction on May 19, 2022, at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building.

The mandate that all persons using Circuit Court of Cook County facilities must wear face coverings will remain in place until further notice, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

The decision was made in consultation with Dr. Rachel Rubin, M.D., senior medical officer and co-lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health. “She informed my staff that our local community transmission rate remains substantial, and strongly recommends we continue our mask mandate until levels reach moderate or low,” Judge Evans said.

Due to predictions of significant snowfall in Cook County, Chief Judge Timothy C.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today posted a notice of ten vacancies for the office of associate judge of the Cook County Circuit Court.

The Hon. Sophia H. Hall has been appointed interim acting presiding judge of the Chancery Division. Judge Hall fills the role left by the recent retirement of the Hon. Moshe Jacobius, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

 Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today the retirement of the Hon. Moshe Jacobius after more than 30 years on the bench, including 11 years as presiding judge of the Chancery Division. 

“I wish Judge Jacobius well in his retirement,” said Judge Evans. “We will miss his keen intelligence, competence, kindness, steadiness, and always thoughtful approach to justice, and we applaud him for his many years of service to the citizens of Illinois.” 

The Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County has determined that the Hon. Judge William B. Raines must receive sensitivity training and gender bias counseling following comments he made to courtroom personnel earlier this month. 

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans responded Tuesday to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s request for a moratorium on use of electronic monitoring for defendants accused of certain violent crimes by pointing out the national and state constitutional issues raised by imprisoning people before they are convicted of anything. The chief judge also noted multiple problems with the data the mayor provided to back up her request. 

The chief judge also pledged continued cooperation with the mayor and the police superintendent in the interests of promoting public safety. 

A new federal grant will boost three existing suburban court programs that help drug users. 

The Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded $550,000 over four years to the Drug Treatment Courts in the Fourth Municipal District (Maywood), the Fifth Municipal District (Bridgeview) and Sixth Municipal District (Markham). The grant will pay for clinical case management for these three south suburban courts. 

The Hon. Ramon Ocasio has been named acting presiding judge of the Fourth Municipal District in Maywood, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Judge Ocasio to this new position of responsibility in our Fourth Municipal District, and I know he will strive for excellence, as he has done throughout his judicial career,” Judge Evans said.

The Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County has determined that, on or about December 6, 2021, the Hon. Raúl Vega allegedly made a statement to another judge, which, if made, would likely be a violation of the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct.

At the Committee’s request, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, who convened the committee, has ordered that this matter be referred to the Judicial Inquiry Board.

In recent weeks, the nation has seen a surge in coronavirus cases due, in large part, to the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant. Because of this surge, and following discussions with public health experts and union representatives throughout the pandemic, the Office of the Chief Judge has determined that vaccination against COVID-19 will be mandated for all of its approximately 2,600 employees, with limited exceptions for those who receive accommodations for medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs.

Starting today, the Hon. Judith C. Rice is the new acting presiding judge of the Domestic Violence Division, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. She is the first African-American to hold this position.

“Judge Rice is an excellent judge and has spent many years as a dedicated public servant,” said Judge Evans. “I am confident that she will succeed in this new leadership role as we continue to expand services and access in the Domestic Violence Division.” 

On November 23, 2021, the Hinsdale Police Department filed a “DUI Criminal Complaint” against Associate Judge Mohammed M. Ghouse in the Illinois circuit court for DuPage County, alleging that, on November 23, 2021, Judge Ghouse was driving under the influence of alcohol and was driving too fast for conditions or failed to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The Circuit Court of Cook County on Friday celebrated “National Adoption Day” with the adoptions of six children, who officially joined their “forever homes” during a hearing in a courtroom at the Richard J. Daley Center. 

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, who gave opening remarks at the adoption finalization hearing, said that adoption day is always a happy day, and that he always sees both smiles and tears on the faces of the children, parents, attorneys, and judges.

The Circuit Court of County will fund a plan that will more than double pay for jurors, improve and expand services for survivors of domestic violence, and increase pay to private attorneys representing indigent persons, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. 

Read the full story here: https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/11/10/22772000/veterans-court-rehabilitation-service-members-trauma-judge-michael-hood-quilts-valor-steinberg

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A new $350,000 grant for the University of Chicago’s Veteran Restorative Justice Project will provide aid to the Veterans Treatment Court in the Leighton Criminal Court Building, which helps veterans who have criminal cases, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced on Thursday.

Starting today, the Hon. David Navarro is the new acting presiding judge of the Pretrial Division, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. 

Judge Navarro, who had previously served as supervising judge of the division, was first appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in May 2017 and was elected in November 2018. 

“Judge Navarro has shown tremendous dedication and skill in his years in the Pretrial Division, including as a supervising judge, and I am confident that he will succeed in this new leadership role,” said Judge Evans. 

The Skokie Veterans Treatment Court, a problem-solving court in the Circuit Court of Cook County, will have its first in-person graduation ceremony since the start of the coronavirus pandemic on Friday. The ceremony will be held at 2:15 p.m. on October 22 in room 201 of the courthouse, which is located at 5600 Old Orchard Road. The media is welcome to attend the ceremony, which takes place less than three weeks before Veterans Day. 

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced he has entered an order reestablishing the Circuit Court of Cook County Committee on Domestic Violence Court and that he has appointed a veteran Domestic Relations Division judge, Honorable Grace G. Dickler, to serve as the Committee’s Chair.

The Committee, which is in formation, will review practices and procedures governing the hearing of domestic violence matters throughout the court, and review the organization and efficiency of Domestic Violence Division operations at all courthouses where domestic violence matters are heard.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans will administer the oath of office to 22 new Circuit Court of Cook County associate judges during a virtual ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 4. The ceremony can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/CookCntyCourt.

The county’s 249 circuit judges selected the associate judges from a list of 44 finalists, who were chosen from 225 candidates.

Four Circuit Court of Cook County judges have volunteered to conduct up to 50 weddings for a closed-street celebration on Michigan Avenue at the Wrigley Building on Sunday, September 26. 

The event, called “Marriages on the Mile – Weddings at Wrigley,” is part of The Magnificent Mile Association’s larger “Meet Me on the Mile” program for Sunday, which will include other activities throughout the day. Scheduled wedding ceremonies will take place between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. outdoors beneath the Wrigley Building Bridge at 410 N. Michigan Avenue. 

Note: This is an update to a previous press release

Highly offensive documents, falsely claiming to be orders from various current or retired Circuit Court of Cook County judges, are being circulated by some person or group, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said on Wednesday. The documents are forgeries, and the Office of the Chief Judge finds the content appalling. The documents appear to be intended as a means of intimidating the recipients and others.

The documents use the names of several sitting and retired judges out of the Skokie Courthouse.

Highly offensive documents, falsely claiming to be orders from various current or retired Circuit Court of Cook County judges, are being circulated by some person or group, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said on Wednesday. The documents are forgeries, and the Office of the Chief Judge finds the content appalling. The documents appear to be intended as a means of intimidating the recipients and others. 

The Office of the Chief Judge is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities to discover who is circulating these fraudulent and disturbing documents.