As a service to our clients and the wider community we are providing this list of the Will County Judges, their courtroom, and their Zoom information. We will update this list as things change.

JUDGE                      COURTROOM              MEETING ID                  PASSWORD

Family Law Division

No one likes being arrested—not in Joliet and not anywhere else in the country. It can be an upsetting and frightening experience for you and for any family or friends who witness a police officer placing cuffs on you.

In light of recent police arrests across the country that have resulted in serious injury or death to the suspect being arrested, you may wonder what you should and should not do in such a situation.

Tips for a “Successful” Arrest Encounter

Along with a criminal defendant’s right to remain silent, the right to have one’s case tried to a jury of “one’s peers” is one of the most important constitutional protections available for criminal defendants. This protection exists to help guarantee that a person is not convicted of a criminal offense through government overreach, but instead only upon evidence and testimony that convinces 12 individuals from the community of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Juries are Supposed to Represent a Cross-Section of the Local Community

In theory, the 12 people who decide a particular Illinois criminal case are supposed to represent a “cross-section” of the community. That is, the individuals who sit on a jury to hear a particular case should represent the races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and education levels (amongst others) of average citizens in the community. If the community has a predominantly minority population, one would expect that a jury would be comprised of predominately minority individuals. This does not always happen, however.

It has long been a criticism of the criminal justice system that criminals are afforded greater protections and rights than the accused defendant. (This emphasis on the defendant’s rights is understandable when one considers that victims are not in jeopardy of being wrongly convicted and having their freedom and/or property wrongly taken.)

This criticism is not entirely unfounded: victims cannot choose whether the accused should accept a plea agreement, they cannot compel the accused to testify at trial and answer questions, and ultimately they cannot determine what sentence the accused should receive.

What is Restitution and Its Purpose?

Charges of sexual misconduct, such as sexual assault, are some of the most serious criminal charges that can be levied against you. In addition to the possibility of prolonged periods of incarceration, sexual assault charges can damage your reputation and standing in your community (sometimes even if no conviction actually results). For this reason, prompt and decisive action should be taken as soon as possible to address any charges of sexual assault or misconduct.

Defenses Available to Defendants Charged with Sexual Assault

When you first learn that you are charged with sexual assault stemming from a sexual encounter with another, you may feel despondent and as if there is no hope. The prosecution may attempt to pressure you into accepting a plea agreement by trying to convince you that you have no defense. This is not true: depending on the facts of your case, you may have one or more defenses available to you: