April 23, 2024
Shaw Local
NewsSubscribePrep SportsElectionNewsletterObituarieseNewspaperThe SceneEvent Calendar

Will County’s chief judge says courts handling changes like SAFE-T Act, tech, ‘dramatic’ judicial turnover

Chief Judge Daniel Kennedy speaks at event sponsored by Will County Bar Association

By Bob Okon
Chief Judge Dan Kennedy gives a speech at the State of the Courthouse luncheon at Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet on Wednesday February 1st, 2023.

Chief Judge Dan Kennedy gives a speech at the State of the Courthouse luncheon at Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet on Wednesday. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)

The Illinois SAFE-T Act, new technology, and the aging out of a generation of judges all mean change for the Will County court system, Chief Judge Daniel Kennedy said during remarks Wednesday.

The potential implementation of the SAFE-T Act, which would eliminate cash bail and make other changes in the criminal court system, would be an historic change, Kennedy said.

Technology and new court rules create opportunities for litigants to go to court by video, which Kennedy said still requires some technological adaptations.

But, the pace of judges taking retirement is “dramatic” and something he has not seen before, Kennedy said both during and after his speech at the State of the Courthouse Luncheon, held by the Will County Bar Association at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet.

“The last year has provided the court with significant challenges,” Kennedy said. “One of the challenges has been the dramatic turnover in the judiciary.”

President of the Will County Bar Association Thomas Manzella speaks at the State of the Courthouse luncheon at Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet on Wednesday February 1st, 2023.

Thomas Manzella, president of the Will County Bar Association, makes opening remarks at the State of the Courthouse luncheon at Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet on Wednesday. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)

The court system, like other fields, is simply seeing the impact of the Baby Boom generation reaching retirement age, Kennedy said later.

The chief judge listed judges coming and going over the past several months.

He bid farewell with thanks to five judges who have taken retirement in Will County’s 12th Circuit: Jeffrey Allen, Dinah Archambeault, Ed Burmila, Michael Powers and Raymond Rossi.

Chief Judge Dan Kennedy attends the State of the Courthouse luncheon at Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet on Wednesday February 1st, 2023.

Chief Judge Dan Kennedy mingles with attorneys at the State of the Courthouse luncheon before his speech. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)

Kennedy also welcomed a crop of new judges that included three circuit judges who won elections in November: John Connor, Jessica Colon-Sayre and Jeff Tuminello. Colon-Sayre previously was an associate judge, and her departure from that position leaves one more vacancy to fill.

The Will County Courthouse in Joliet on Wednesday February 1st, 2023.

The new Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet opened in October 2020. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)

Meanwhile, former Associate Judge Marzell Richardson is returning as a circuit judge to fill the position vacated by Allen’s retirement.

Two local attorneys who have become associate judges are Sherri Hale and Jim Harvey.

Being a judge has changed already, due in large part to technological innovations used to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic when litigants began to appear in the courtroom through video conferencing rather than in person.

That option remains by order of the Supreme Court, although Will County has taken advantage of a six-month extension of the rule until June to ensure that video conferencing can be used in all satellite courts. Video conferencing is in use at the main courthouse.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow attends the State of the Courthouse luncheon at Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet on Wednesday 1st, 2023.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, who with about 60 other state's attorneys has filed a lawsuit contending that the SAFE-T Act is unconstitutional, listens to Chief Judge Dan Kennedy's remarks at the State of the Courthouse luncheon on Wednesday. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)

Kennedy said he has been meeting for months with judges, court staff and local officials to prepare for the potential implementation of the SAFE-T Act.

He noted that Will County States Attorney James Glasgow, who was in the audience, was among about 60 state’s attorneys who filed a lawsuit awaiting a hearing to determine the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act.

“The oral arguments are scheduled for March with an opinion following thereafter,” Kennedy said. “This decision has the potential to have a profound impact on judicial operations.”