Illinois court reviews electronic device policy, orders judge to take training

Cellphone policy changed after judge threatens clerk with jail time for bringing phone to court

Illinois court reviews electronic device policy, orders judge to take training

An Illinois judge was directed to participate in training following an October 2023 incident where she threatened a law clerk with jail time and prohibited him from entering the courthouse after he brought a cellphone into her courtroom.

The George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago generally does not allow court users to carry mobile phones into the courtroom, noted an article of the ABA Journal, a magazine of the American Bar Association.

As an exception, lawyers and their authorized employees can take their phones inside, the article explained. The law clerk, who assumed that he fell under the exception because he was working for a lawyer, agreed to place his phone into a locker upon being instructed by a sheriff’s deputy, the article said.

The Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County recently reviewed the circumstances surrounding the incident involving Peggy Chiampas, associate judge of the court’s Criminal Division, said the court in a news release.

The committee decided that Chiampas needed training and mentoring under Erica Reddick, presiding judge of the Criminal Division, on how to enforce administrative orders applicable to the use of electronic devices in courtrooms, according to the news release.

Court policy updated

The committee also chose to introduce changes to the applicable general administrative order to clarify its policy for court users on possessing and using electronic devices in courthouses, the news release said. All the court’s judges would receive the amended training materials relating to the policy and the enforcement of administrative orders, the news release added.

A notable change in the court’s updated order, which affects all its courthouses, permits members of news media to take notes and to send text messages and emails to their colleagues even while the court is in session, the news release said.

“The Circuit Court is committed to ensuring our courtrooms operate in accordance with the law and we will continue to update our policies, orders and trainings as needed to best serve Cook County,” said Timothy Evans, the court’s chief judge, in the news release.

Recent articles & video

Tricon Energy, helped by Dentons, establishes Australia and New Zealand business

Taiwanese banks, advised by Pinsent Masons, fund NSW construction project

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, guided by Allens, sells stake in Vietnamese bank

Consultation seeks feedback on tax promoter penalty laws

International Bar Association endorses first international treaty on AI governance and human rights

Illinois Supreme Court Commission releases study on bullying in the legal profession

Most Read Articles

Fastest-growing law firms in Australia for 2024 unveiled

Peter Pether, construction disputes lawyer at KWM, to join MinterEllison

Indigenous women in Australia are up to seven times more likely to be homicide victims: report

Thomson Geer guides Qoria through OctopusBI acquisition, capital raising