Court upholds DUI arrest of Lake County judge

Former Lake County Chief Judge David Hall will stand trial for driving drunk after a judge ruled Wednesday that police had probable cause to pull him over.

"There was reasonable suspicion to stop the defendant's vehicle and arrest him," Kane County Judge F. Keith Brown said during a hearing in Geneva.

Hall was stopped early April 26 after a Vernon Hills police officer, who since has died, claimed to see the judge driving erratically on eastbound Route 60. Hall was later charged with DUI and resisting arrest.

His attorneys had sought to have the arrest quashed, saying police had no reason to pursue Hall about a mile beyond the village limits, where the arrest took place. But Brown ruled the arresting officer was acting on more than a "mere hunch" after he spotted Hall weave in and out of his lane and make a wide turn onto the highway.

Defense attorney Douglas Zeit said Wednesday's ruling shouldn't hurt his client's defense in the criminal case. "It's a different level of proof," Zeit said.

Hall has admitted to drinking and driving but says he violated no laws. The judge said he had consumed alcohol at two locations - a fundraising event and a private club - before he was pulled over by Officer Jesse Goldsmith around 1:45 a.m. on Route 60, west of St. Mary's Road. Hall was traveling in a caravan of vehicles at the time.

Though Goldsmith died of an apparent heart attack in June, the officer filed a thorough police report and further solidified the charges by calling a backup officer to the scene, Assistant Attorney General David Nikolic said.

"The reason we're here is Officer Jesse Goldsmith. He did everything the right way," Nikolic said.

Hall, 55, resigned as chief judge in May but remains on the bench. His trial begins Nov. 10.

Brown and the attorney general's officer were assigned to the case to avoid any potential conflicts of interest in Lake County.