On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that a panel of Cook County judges decided not to discipline an associate judge who threatened a law clerk with jail time last fall over a cellphone.

According to the Sun-Times, the circuit court’s Executive Committee met twice in August to determine if Judge Peggy Chiampas violated ethics rules during an incident involving law clerk Robert Almodovar. Almodovar was observing a public hearing in Chiampas’ courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse when a deputy asked if he had a cellphone.

Almodovar said he did have his phone as he was working as a law clerk, and offered to lock it in a downstairs locker. However, before he could do so, Chiampas shouted from the bench for him to be brought before her. The judge then repeatedly threatened Almodovar with six months in jail if he did not let the deputy search his phone, even though nothing unlawful was found.

Despite these threats, the Executive Committee chose not to impose any discipline on Chiampas. The judges also decided against referring the matter to the Judicial Inquiry Board, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct. Chief Judge Timothy Evans said Chiampas will keep her courtroom assignment but receive additional training on enforcing administrative orders.

This decision contrasts previous actions taken against other judges accused of misconduct. When Judges William Hooks and Raul Vega were referred to the Inquiry Board over alleged comments, they were reassigned pending investigations. Hooks has since retired, while the Board’s investigation of Vega is ongoing.

The experience with Chiampas was traumatic for Almodovar, who previously spent over 20 years wrongly imprisoned for murder before being exonerated in 2018. He now works as a law clerk for attorney Jennifer Bonjean, who is suing Chiampas over alleged misconduct in another case.

Evans acknowledged he learned of the Almodovar incident over the summer. While no official order banning Almodovar was issued, Chiampas lifted the ban during an August hearing after multiple attempts by Bonjean to have it lifted.

The Supreme Court has asked circuit courts to clarify cellphone policies in courthouses.

 

 

Source: Chicago Sun-Times