During Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Kankakee County Board’s Criminal Justice Committee, the Committee heard from 21st Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Tom Cunnington who told the committee there’s legislation making it’s way through Springfield that would change the way Chief Public Defenders are chosen. Right now, that position is appointed by circuit judges. Judge Cunnington said if made law, the State would make that appointment
Cunnington added Chief Judges from across the state voted almost unanimously to oppose the legislation, and got the chief sponsor of the bill to allow some local input into the hiring of Chief Public Defenders. He added part of the legislation would also put a limit on the number of cases handled by a public defender, which could lead to the county needing to hire more public defenders without extra money from Springfield
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