Judge reassigned due to misdemeanor charge
Released On 07/11/2018
Pursuant to action taken Wednesday by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Associate Judge Joseph Michael Claps has been reassigned to administrative duties. The assignment is effective until further notice.
The Executive Committee’s decision to reassign Judge Claps followed a meeting of the Circuit Court of Cook County Executive Committee convened by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.
The committee is aware that the Cook County Sheriff filed a misdemeanor charge against Judge Claps, alleging that he carried a concealed weapon into a prohibited area. On July 5, Chief Judge Evans reassigned Judge Claps to administrative duties pending the Executive Committee’s consideration of the matter today.
The members of the Executive Committee who approved the reassignment are as follows:
Honorable Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge and Committee Chair
Honorable Mary Ellen Coghlan, Presiding Judge, Probate Division
Honorable Grace G. Dickler, Presiding Judge, Domestic Relations Division
Honorable James P. Flannery Jr., Presiding Judge, Law Division
Honorable Sophia H. Hall, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Resource Section
Honorable Moshe Jacobius, Presiding Judge, Chancery Division
Honorable LeRoy K. Martin Jr., Presiding Judge, Criminal 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 Jill C. Marisie, Acting Presiding Judge, Third Municipal District
Honorable Cheyrl D. Ingram, Presiding Judge, Fourth Municipal District
Honorable Raymond L. Jagielski, Presiding Judge, Fifth Municipal District
Honorable Tommy Brewer, Presiding Judge, Sixth Municipal District
A judge may be temporarily reassigned to restricted or other than judicial duties whenever there are charges or implications of improper conduct, depending on the severity and nature, under “Illinois Supreme Court Rule 56. Temporary Assignment to Other Duties.” In the Circuit Court of Cook County, administrative duties can include performing legal research, conducting marriage ceremonies and reviewing petitions for reduced court-filing fees for indigent parties.
Regarding any questions directed to the Office of the Chief Judge about any case in any court system, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 63 states: “A judge should abstain from public comment about a pending or impending proceeding in any court, and should require similar abstention on the part of court personnel subject to the judge’s direction and control.”
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