Court’s Executive Committee action on judge over direct criminal contempt rulings
Released On 11/26/2014
Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced that the court’s Executive Committee today ordered the removal of Judge Gloria Chevere from her present assignment due to rulings she made which may have resulted in “possible threat of injury to the public and to the orderly administration of justice.”
The Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County convened on November 24, 2014, and asked Judge Chevere to attend. The purpose of the meeting was to review allegations brought to their attention that Judge Chevere failed to follow appropriate procedures prior to finding litigants in direct criminal contempt of court. Following a review of documents and a preliminary review of the allegations, the Committee ordered Honorable E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District and Judge Chevere’s supervising judge, to reassign Judge Chevere pending the ultimate investigation and finding in the matter.
The Committee also ordered that Judge Chevere be assigned to the Illinois Supreme Court Peer Mentoring Program.
The Executive Committee is chaired by Chief Judge Evans and is made up of the following judges:
Honorable Patricia Banks, Presiding Judge, Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division
Honorable Paul P. Biebel, 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 Edmund Ponce de León, Presiding Judge, County Division
Honorable Sebastian T. Patti, Presiding Judge, Domestic Violence 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
Judge Gloria Chevere was elected a circuit judge in 2006. Her most recent assignment was hearing Chicago misdemeanor/ordinance cases in a criminal branch court (Branch 23) located at 5555 West Grand Avenue in Chicago. She will be reassigned to a First Municipal District call hearing civil, non jury/administrative matters as determined by the Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District, the Honorable E. Kenneth Wright, Jr.
Attached is Special Order 2014 – 66.
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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY
SPECIAL ORDER: 2014 – 66
SUBJECT: Assignment of Judge
Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 56, on November 24, 2014, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans convened the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The following findings were made regarding Judge Gloria Chevere:
1. Allegations of inappropriate conduct by Judge Gloria Chevere have been brought to the attention of the Executive Committee. These allegations claim that Judge Chevere failed to follow appropriate procedures prior to finding litigants in direct criminal contempt of court. The Committee reviewed documents and conducted a preliminary review of these allegations which caused the Committee members to conclude that a possible threat of injury to the public and to the orderly administration of justice may have occurred.
2. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 21, provides, inter alia, as follows:
(c) The chief judge of each circuit may enter general orders in the exercise of his or her general administrative authority, including orders providing for assignment of judges, general or specialized divisions, and times and places of holding court.
3. The Committee members are cognizant of the fact that their review is only preliminary and that further investigation and ultimate determination are still pending. The Committee members further recognize that each judge has authority to preside over his or her courtroom and to administer justice in accordance with the law. Nonetheless, the Committee believes that based on the allegations against Judge Gloria Chevere and its preliminary review of these allegations and pending the ultimate investigation and determination in this matter as well as in the best interests of judicial administration:
It is hereby ordered that pursuant to the rules and policies for judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County, effective immediately, Judge Gloria Chevere is removed from her current assignment and will be reassigned to a First Municipal District call hearing civil, nonjury/administrative matters as determined by the Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District, the Honorable E. Kenneth Wright, Jr.
It is hereby further ordered that Judge Gloria Chevere shall be immediately assigned to the Illinois Supreme Court Peer Mentoring Program in accordance with Illinois Supreme Court Administrative Order M.R. 23632 dated January 19, 2010.
Dated this 26th day of November, 2014. This order shall be spread upon the records of this Court and published.
