Presiding Judge Michael Toomin continues to vet and reject detention review motions from juveniles, despite an order from the chief judge that all detention reviews be heard.
Presiding Judge Michael Toomin has said youth detention reviews cannot be filed if they mention a law that juveniles cannot be held more than 30 days pre-trial. Chief Judge Timothy Evans is clarifying his order to say they can.
In response to the coronavirus, the Cook County Circuit Court has moved most hearings online. The shift has meant technical difficulties and challenges for public access, especially in felony bond court.
Nearly four years passed before an allegation that Appellate Judge Shelly Harris tried to intervene in his nephew’s appeal became public. Bar associations made no mention of the allegation by retired Appellate Judge Mary Anne Mason, even as Harris ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Illinois Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. will keep his seat. In Appellate Court races, incumbents saw mixed results.
Illinois Supreme Court candidate Shelly Harris has contended that the accusation that he acted unethically on behalf of a nephew is a false charge by a former colleague who supports an opponent in his race.
The court will suspend all non-essential matters for 30 days starting Tuesday, the chief judge told presiding judges in a three-hour meeting on Friday.
A retired appellate judge said that a discussion that Illinois Supreme Court candidate Shelly Harris had with her about a pending case involving his nephew has led to a complaint to the state agency that investigates judicial misconduct.
A single candidate has poured more than $1.9 million of his own money into the campaign, making this race more expensive than the last two Illinois Supreme Court races combined.
As of March 11, the three white candidates in the Illinois Supreme Court election have outraised the four people of color by a ratio of 2-to-1.
