Lake chief judge charged with DUI, claims he was pepper-sprayed
Lake County Chief Circuit Judge David Hall was arrested on DUI and other charges and pepper-sprayed during an early morning traffic stop by Vernon Hills police, his attorney said Monday.
Hall, 55, began a two-year term as chief circuit judge in December and has been a judge since 1989. He could face sanctions, including removal from the bench, if convicted.
Vernon Hills police Sgt. Kevin Grampo said Hall was stopped at 1:45 a.m. Saturday and eventually charged with DUI, interfering with a police officer, failure to yield at an intersection and improper lane use. Grampo would not comment on details of the arrest.
Hall declined to comment Monday and directed inquiries to his attorney, Mark Belokon.
Hall was driving east on Route 60 west of St. Mary's Road when he was stopped by a lone officer, Belokon said. Hall was heading to his Waukegan home after attending a dinner for the YMCA at the American Hotel Registry offices in Vernon Hills.
After taking Hall's driver's license, registration and insurance information, Belokon said, the officer went to his squad car for a short time, then returned to Hall.
The officer twice asked Hall to exit his car, Belokon said, and each time Hall responded by asking if he was under arrest.
Belokon said the officer, who at that point had been joined by another, sprayed Hall with pepper spray.
Belokon said Hall was attempting to get out of his car and accidentally rolled up the driver's-side window, but immediately lowered it. The officers removed Hall from the car and handcuffed him.
"We look forward to receiving the audio and videotapes of Judge Hall's encounter with the police," he said. "We believe they will tell the whole story and we will be preparing for trial."
Hall told the officers he was not feeling well, Belokon said, and was taken by ambulance to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
Belokon declined to discuss the nature of Hall's illness but said he was released from the hospital about 5 p.m. Saturday.
Hall is scheduled to appear in court May 26.
Circuit Judge Christopher Starck, who served as chief judge before Hall's election, said Monday that Hall has been placed on leave from his assignment and given administrative duties.
As the immediate past chief judge, Starck said he has been named to serve in that post on an interim basis.
Circuit Judge James Booras is the 19th Judicial Circuit's deputy chief judge and will assume Hall's role when he returns from vacation next week, Starck said.
Starck said he has asked the Illinois Office of Court Administration to assign a judge from outside the county to hear the case.
Hall may also be in peril of violating the state's Judicial Code of Conduct, which in part holds, "A judge should respect and comply with the law and at all times conduct himself or herself in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary."
The Judicial Inquiry Board in Chicago would decide whether the judge is in violation if it decides it needs to investigate the judge. All complaints filed against judges are confidential unless the board files a formal complaint with the Illinois Courts Commission. At that point the commission would hold public hearings.
The commission is armed with an arsenal of sanctions ranging from censure to suspension to removal from the bench.