Chief Judge Timothy Evans is up for retention during the current election cycle. How should you vote?

CWB Chicago ^ | October 17, 2022 | Anonymous

[PBRCat]

Perhaps the most influential judge who is up for retention in the current election cycle is Timothy C. Evans, the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The chief judge does not hear cases, but he heavily influences the county’s justice system through judicial assignments, policy decisions, the operation of an electronic monitoring program for people awaiting trial, and management of the adult probation department and juvenile detention programs.

Evans, 79, was a Chicago alderman from 1973 to 1991, when he lost a re-election campaign. He became a Cook County judge in 1992 and rose to chief judge in 2001. He has held the position ever since.

As chief judge, he has created and pushed for the use of restorative justice courtrooms and other alternatives to traditional criminal courts.

In 2017, Evans issued an order that directed judges to prioritize non-monetary bail conditions for people accused of crimes long before the state legislature passed the upcoming banishment of cash bail statewide. In concert with his order, Evans replaced the slate of seasoned judges who handled daily bond court hearings.

Looking ahead, Evans has said he does not believe electronic monitoring is the most effective way to prevent people accused of crimes from committing new offenses while awaiting trial.

“I believe programs providing cognitive behavioral therapy are a better means of bringing about long-lasting changes in individual behavior,” Evans wrote in January.

Evans’s public statements about his reform efforts and office operations have sometimes been, at best, misleading.

Speaking about the effectiveness of his 2017 bail reform order, Evans in 2019 claimed, “We haven’t had any horrible incidents occur” since the changes were enacted.

In fact, some people who benefited from Evans’ reforms had been charged with murder, attempted murder, and other violent crimes while on pre-trial release.

[PBRCat]

Chicago and Cook County residents need to vote "NO" as to the retention of Evans as a judge. His soft on crime policies have helped transform Chicago into a slaughterhouse. He is every bit as bad as Kim Foxx, the prosecutor who will not hold criminals accountable.

In order to be retained, Evans must receive 60% of the vote. He needs to be stopped to send a message about law and order.

[caver]

I always vote NO when asked whether to retain ANY judge.