Brother in ‘Accountability Angel’ case seeks new judge

A Morris man charged in the “Accountability Angel” incident at the La Salle County Courthouse wants a new judge and will argue for one Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Jacob Farmer, 29, known in YouTube recordings as “Justice Jake,” appeared Tuesday before Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr., whom Farmer wants removed from the case. Ryan agreed to temporarily transfer Farmer’s pending misdemeanor case to Judge Michael C. Jansz, but only for the limited purpose of letting Farmer make his case for a substitution of judge.

Farmer was initially set for trial earlier this month on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a peace officer. He could face up to a year in jail if convicted of obstructing a peace officer — he also was held in direct contempt — on a charge of thwarting La Salle County court security while they placed his sister, Angel Farmer, known as the “Accountability Angel” in YouTube recordings, under arrest.

Jacob Farmer’s trial is on hold while he argues a series of pre-trial motions. Angel Farmer will appear Wednesday, Nov. 17, on three misdemeanor charges filed March 8 while attempting to enter the courthouse for what she described as a public access compliance check or “audit,” many of these she does while recording and posting the videos online.