On Saturday, March 28, 2026, Shaw Local News Network reported that La Salle County prosecutors filed a formal complaint accusing the chief judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit of bullying and verbal harassment, allegations now under review by a state oversight agency.
According to documents obtained by Shaw Local News Network, La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro submitted the complaint to the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board on behalf of staff in his office. The circuit encompasses La Salle, Bureau, and Grundy counties. The inquiry board, which investigates judicial misconduct, typically does not comment on pending cases and releases information only upon reaching a finding.
The complaint targets Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr., who declined to comment when given the opportunity. Navarro also declined to provide further public statements, indicating he would defer comment until the inquiry board completes its review.
The allegations became public after La Salle County Board member Alexandria “Ali” Braboy obtained related documents through a Freedom of Information Act request and shared a partially redacted version with Shaw Local. In a statement, Braboy said the information should be made available to the public and called for greater transparency in how judicial complaints are handled. She also urged county leadership to clarify how employees are being supported.
Included in the complaint is an eight-page, undated letter Navarro addressed to Ryan, outlining what he described as a longstanding pattern of abusive and hostile conduct. Navarro wrote that he had personally witnessed the judge’s behavior over decades and alleged that staff members had been subjected to name-calling, belittlement, and intimidation. Some employees, he said, sought medical treatment, left court proceedings in distress, or requested reassignment to avoid appearing in Ryan’s courtroom.
Navarro stated that he had sought guidance from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, which advised him that he was not only permitted but required to report the conduct. As a potential remedy, Navarro suggested that Ryan be reassigned from the felony division at the La Salle County criminal justice center to another division within the circuit.
The complaint appears to have been prompted in part by a series of documented incidents, including recent in-court remarks. One Feb. 2, 2026, email included in the materials alleges that Ryan referred to two assistant state’s attorneys as “morons” while discussing jail detainees awaiting court appearances.
In another account, a prosecuting attorney described being subjected to belittling comments in open court and in front of a jury, stating the experience made it difficult to continue the trial effectively due to fear of further ridicule.
The Judicial Inquiry Board has not announced whether it will pursue formal charges or disciplinary action as the review remains ongoing.
Source: Shaw Local News Network
