Chicago-area law clerk accused of pretending to be judge gets fired

CHICAGO—Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, who has come under criticism for his handling of allegations that one of his law clerks put on a robe and heard cases, has fired the clerk, his office announced Tuesday.

In a terse, three-paragraph statement, Evans’ office said that Rhonda Crawford “is no longer employed as a law clerk/staff attorney” assigned to the south suburban Markham courthouse. The statement said that judicial rules prevented Evans from commenting further on the matter.

Crawford has worked for Evans’ office since 2011 and made about $57,000 a year.

In March, Crawford defeated two opponents in the Democratic primary for the 1st Judicial Subcircuit, which includes parts of the South Side and some of the south suburbs. It’s unclear what impact, if any, the matter will have on this November’s general election. Crawford is running unopposed.

Evans dismissed the clerk Friday, the same day the Chicago Tribune reported that the Cook County state’s attorney’s office had begun a criminal investigation into allegations that Judge Valarie Turner allowed Crawford to put on a robe and hear at least two traffic cases this month in the Markham courthouse.

Sally Daly, a spokéswoman for the state’s attorney’s office, said in an email to the Tribune on Friday: “Investigation is ongoing. We won’t speculate on possible charges.” Daly declined to answer further questions about whether Turner or Crawford was the target of the investigation.

Neither Turner nor Crawford has responded to requests for comment.

The incident occurred Aug. 11, when officials say Crawford put on a robe and, with Turner standing nearby, presided over at least two traffic cases. Both involved South Side residents driving in Dolton; one was ticketed for driving with no proof of insurance, the other for driving on the median.

Documents show that one case was continued, while the other was dismissed when the officer failed to appear in court. Both cases will be reheard by a real judge.

Evans suspended Crawford without pay on Aug. 17.

Turner, a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School and a former federal prosecutor, was first elected to the bench in 2002. She makes about $190,000 a year.

Evans temporarily removed Turner from the bench and assigned her to handle administrative tasks such as conducting weddings and reviewing requests for fee waivers in civil cases.

The incident comes at a sensitive time for Evans, who has been chief judge for 15 years. He faces challenges from two judges seeking to oust him in internal court elections Sept. 15.

Thomas Allen, a former Chicago alderman, and Sandra Ramos, a former state prosecutor, are running against Evans to lead one of the largest court systems in the nation, with more than 400 judges.

Allen, in a letter to fellow judges, called on Evans to explain the incident in greater detail, saying it represents one more example of Evans’ failure as the leader of the county’s courts. He also demanded that Evans say whether he has referred the incident to the state’s legal disciplinary agencies or to law enforcement.

“We cannot allow the largest unified court system in the country and the judges and lawyers who serve in it to become a laughingstock,” Allen wrote. “We cannot afford to have a pall over the ethics or integrity of our judges and our court system in Cook County after the scandals we faced in the past. It’s up to the Chief Judge to step up and fix this mess now.”

The Judicial Inquiry Board, which oversees judges in the state, and the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, which licenses and disciplines lawyers, have declined to comment.