Judge removed from hearing cases due to alleged misconduct

Pursuant to action taken today by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Judge Valarie E. Turner has been temporarily reassigned to duties other than judicial duties in the office of the Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District, Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. The assignment is effective until further notice.

The decision to reassign Judge Turner followed a meeting of the Circuit Court of Cook County Executive Committee convened today by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans to discuss allegations of improper conduct involving Judge Turner. The committee was informed that Judge Turner allegedly permitted attorney Rhonda Crawford, a law clerk with the Office of the Chief Judge and candidate for judicial election in November 2016, to adjudicate at least two cases from the bench while wearing a judicial robe in Judge Turner’s courtroom.

Until today, Judge Turner had been assigned to the Sixth Municipal District Courthouse in Markham where she heard a variety of matters in rotation with other judges. 

 “The public’s confidence in the judiciary is the cornerstone of our system of justice, and I have taken the steps necessary to preserve that confidence,” said Chief Judge Evans. “Because the investigation is pending, I believe it is inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

In addition, Crawford was suspended pending internal investigation without pay by the Office of the Chief Judge. Her current annual salary is $56,961, and she has been employed as a law clerk/staff attorney with the office since 2011.            

The members of the Executive Committee who participated in the meeting are as follows:         

• Honorable Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge and Committee Chair
• Honorable Patricia Banks, Presiding Judge, Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division
• Honorable LeRoy K. Martin, Jr., Presiding Judge, Criminal Division
• Honorable Mary Ellen Coghlan, Presiding Judge, Probate Division        
• Honorable Grace G. Dickler, Presiding Judge, Domestic Relations Division
• Honorable Sophia H. Hall, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Resource Section
•  Honorable Moshe Jacobius, Presiding Judge, Chancery Division
• Honorable James P. Flannery, Jr., Presiding Judge, Law Division
• Honorable Patricia M. Martin, Presiding Judge, Child Protection Division
• Honorable Sebastian T. Patti, Presiding Judge, Domestic Violence Division
• Honorable Sharon M. Sullivan, Presiding Judge, County Division                      
• Honorable Michael P. Toomin, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Justice Division
• Honorable E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Presiding Judge, First Municipal District
• Honorable Shelley Sutker-Dermer, Presiding Judge, Second Municipal District
• Honorable William O. Maki, Presiding Judge, Third Municipal District
• Honorable Cheyrl D. Ingram, Presiding Judge, Fourth Municipal District
• Honorable Raymond L. Jagielski, Presiding Judge, Fifth Municipal District
• Honorable Marjorie C. Laws, Presiding Judge, Sixth Municipal District