New Antioch court to hear minor local cases

Antioch residents charged with building code violations, noise complaints, parking tickets and other minor offenses will no longer be forced to sit through clogged up branch courts.

On Tuesday night, the village swore in Henry "Skip" Tonigan, a retired judge, as the hearing officer of Antioch's newly created adjudication court.

Tonigan, former chief judge of the Lake County circuit court from 1998 to 2000, will hear minor local cases once a month at the village hall.

Mayor Larry Hanson applauded the creation of the new court, explaining that residents won't have to drive out to circuit branches for minor cases and police officers won't have to be out of the village at court hearings.

"I think the village should have done this a long time ago," said Trustee Dennis Crosby. "This will be a big plus for the town."

Hanson added that most villages that utilize a similar local court see their collections from fees and violations increase because the fines will not have to be shared with the branch districts.

The first hearing is set for Aug. 4, and the village plans to hold subsequent hearings on the first Thursday morning of each month.

Tonigan, who will be paid an hourly rate, described the court as an informal process where both sides can plead their case before he makes a decision.

The Antioch court will be the ninth village court that Tonigan is working with for administrative hearings.

The former chief judge retired from the chair about three and a half years ago after serving as a Lake County judge for 23 years. Before that, Tonigan practiced as a trial attorney. He is currently practicing for the Kelleher & Buckley, which handles estate planning, real estate, general litigation and personal injury cases.