Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Lake Cnty. 1-1.16

As amended through September 23, 2024

Rule 1-1.16 - Court Facilities

A. The Chief Judge shall designate when and where court shall be held within the circuit pursuant to Article VI, Section 7(c) of the Constitution of the State of Illinois (1970).

B. The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit shall be open to the public during regular business hours. The building may be closed to the public during regular business hours when situations require this action to ensure safety and the orderly conduct of court business. The decision to close the building during regular business hours shall be made by the Chief Judge or his designee. The building shall be closed to the public after regular business hours unless otherwise approved by the Chief Judge.

C. The willful destruction of or damage to any court facility or its contents, the creation of any hazard, and the throwing of articles of any kind within court facilities or from court facilities is prohibited.

D. The Chief Judge may, from time to time, appoint a committee of Judges to inspect the court facilities within the Circuit and to determine if the personnel and resource needs of the Court are being met. The committee shall report to the Circuit Judges as to whether each courtroom, jury room and chambers meets minimum standards as provided by the Supreme Court, and whether the personnel and resources presently being provided to the Courts are adequate. The committee may prepare and submit proposals and recommendations to the County Board for its consideration and action. If appropriate action is not taken within a reasonable time as may be designated by the committee, the provisions of Section E of this Rule shall apply.

E. Upon the failure of the County Board to act pursuant to Section D of this Rule, the committee shall so report to the Chief Judge and submit to the Chief Judge its proposals and recommendations together with the response and action taken by the County Board. If the Chief Judge deems appropriate, he shall set the matter of the proposals and recommendations of the committee for administrative hearing over which he shall preside. The Clerk of the Circuit Court shall give Notice of the hearing to the Chairman of the County Board and to any other person whom the Chief Judge deems to be an interested party. The Notice shall be by regular U.S. mail, state the time, date and place of hearing, the matter to be reviewed, and include a copy of the proposals of the committee. The Clerk's certificate of mailing shall be made of record. The hearing shall not be held until after thirty days from the date of mailing Notice.

If after hearing, the Chief Judge finds that deficiencies exist, he shall delineate the particular deficiencies, specify the corrective action to be taken by the County Board, and the time by which the corrective action is to be completed. If the County Board fails or refuses to comply, a proceeding to enforce the Chief Judge's directive may be filed pursuant to Article XIV of the Code of Civil Procedure or in a manner as may be provided by the Supreme Court. The Chief Judge may appoint any such experts deemed necessary to examine the facilities and to present evidence at the hearing before the Chief Judge and/or upon hearing of the Complaint for Mandamus.

F. When appropriate, the Attorney General or the State's Attorney may represent the Court in the hearing before the Chief Judge and in the Complaint for Mandamus. If the Attorney General or State's Attorney is not able to represent the Court, the Chief Judge may designate another attorney licensed in the State of Illinois.

Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Lake Cnty. 1-1.16

Amended effective 10/24/2016.