Cursing judge sent for counseling

Chicago Sun Times ^ | 10-15-2004 | STEFANO ESPOSITO AND ABDON M. PALLASCH

[lindor]

A Cook County judge who twice used the "F" word in court last week will be removed from the bench -- at least for now -- and has agreed to take anger management counseling.

Announcing his decision to pull Judge Stanley J. Sacks from hearing cases, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans called the judge's profanity-laced outburst "an egregious lapse of decorum and dignity."

"In reading the court transcript, I was exceedingly troubled by Judge Sacks' lack of respect for the high office which he holds and for those individuals present for the proceedings," Evans said in a written statement. "Judges, in their courtrooms, must lead by example, holding themselves to the same high standards of conduct they would demand of those appearing before them."

Widely viewed as one of the hardest-working and fair, though somewhat crusty, judges at the 26th and California courthouse, Sacks didn't look like he would put up a fight Thursday.

WHAT THE RULE BOOK SAYS "A judge should maintain order and decorum in proceedings before the judge. "A judge should be patient, dignified and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity, and should require similar conduct of lawyers, and of staff court officials, and others subject to the judge's direction and control." Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct, Rule 63 A(2),(3)

"There is no proper context nor justification for my conduct," Sacks was quoted as saying in a statement released through Evans' office.

As he left the bench Thursday, Sacks politely declined to talk about the case with a reporter.

Sacks will be transferred Oct. 20 to the court's Domestic Relations Division, where he'll remain "until further notice," but won't judge cases, Evans' office said.

Judge accused cops of favoritism

Sacks' salty outbursts came last week as he found Chicago cop Alonzo Caudillo guilty of reckless homicide. Driving out of control, Caudillo hit and killed 19-year-old Jadzia Bobek as she crossed a Chicago street in January 2003.

A furious Sacks cussed as he accused cops of treating Caudillo with kid gloves after Caudillo told on-scene investigators, "I'm a cop."

Sacks' words infuriated the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, which praised Evans' decision Thursday.

"We made our feelings known to members of the judiciary and we appreciate the actions the chief judge took today in sending a message to Judge Sacks for his outlandish remarks," said Mark Donahue, president of the FOP.

But Donahue's remarks troubled one veteran criminal defense attorney.

"When you're a judge, you have to have a modicum of decorum and if [the punishment] is for the words used, then I can see why the chief judge did it," said Marijane Placek. "If it's for the verdict he handed down or [Sacks'] strong admonishment to police, then it's totally unjustified."

Several criminal defense attorneys have groused in recent months about Sacks' bench demeanor.

"He berates defense lawyers for no good reason -- some of the best [attorneys] I've ever seen," said one defense attorney, who didn't want his name used.

One of Caudillo's attorneys, Richard Dvorak, said he plans to file a motion for a new trial based in part on Sacks' outbursts.

Many say he's hard worker

But many attorneys, both defense and prosecution, said it's a waste to boot one of Cook County's most diligent judges. The attorneys said they'd miss the sometimes quirky judge who has a framed photograph of his cats on the bench next to a picture of his wife and daughter. Besides, other judges swear in court, but only when the microphone is turned off, the attorneys said.

"You have to put that particular incident in the entire context of a judicial career," said Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine. "He's in the top two or three of the hardest-working judges and people who really work cases."

[Charles Henrickson]

Announcing his decision to pull Judge Stanley J. Sacks from hearing cases, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans called the judge's profanity-laced outburst "an egregious lapse of decorum and dignity."

Sacks' filth Evans knew.