Xandria Harris Defense Attorney on Change of Venue, “Too much bias in the county.”

A hearing on a motion for a change of venue in the Xandria Harris murder trial is being held in Kankakee County Circuit Court today. Harris’s defense attorney Cierra Norris argued this morning that the community is riddled with grief from the 2021 shooting death of Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and severe wounding of Officer Tyler Baily that potential jurors do no have the ability to be unbiased in the upcoming trial. Norris then presented evidence on previous jury selections to back up her claims. Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliot reminded Norris that if the motion is granted, she has the right as the judge to choose whichever county she wants to have the case tried. Norris fired back at Judge Elliot saying, “You will choose a county with the most white people in it.” That’s when Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe spoke up and said Norris should be held in contempt of court for insinuating that Judge Elliot is racist. The hearing continues this afternoon.