Suspect has 6 months to answer question

It is rarely a good idea to answer a question with a question.

And it is never a good idea to do so when the person you are talking to has the power to throw you in jail.

Consider the case of Shaun Cutrer, a 22-year-old Waukegan man charged with aggravated battery to a police officer.

Cutrer appeared before Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak last week for arraignment and things did not go well.

Along with facing a prison term for the crime he is accused of, Cutrer was confronted with a bond report that said he had tested positive for marijuana while under the supervision of the court.

Such activity is frowned upon, and Potkonjak converted Cutrer's signature bond to a $75,000 cash bond as an attention-getting device.

As he strolled over to the courtroom deputy's desk to await his trip to the lockup where he would stay until $7,500 cash could be posted for his release, Cutrer felt the need to communicate with someone in the courtroom audience.

Unfortunately, his communication consisted of a somewhat loud and extremely profane summary of the just-concluded proceedings, and Potkonjak ordered Cutrer to rejoin him at the bench.

"Do you want to be held in contempt of court," Potkonjak queried, and Cutrer passed his first test of the morning by responding that he did not.

But Cutrer's performance on Potkonjak's next challenge failed to rise to the acceptable level when the judge asked him if he intended to apologize for his outburst.

His arms folded across his chest, Cutrer sealed his fate by saying, "Why should I?"

Potkonjak found Cutrer in contempt, and gave him 180 days in jail to try to come up with an answer to his own question.

Fees increasing:

To help combat a dramatic shortfall in state funding, the 19th Judicial Circuit is increasing the fees charged for filing cases in Lake County.

With the courts facing the loss of more than $4 million in state support this year that is supposed to be guaranteed, the county board's Law and Judicial committee has approved raising the filing fee for most types of cases from $20 to $25.

The fee for filing a case in small claims court will be increasing from $8 to $15.

Court officials estimate the move will generate about $934,000 in new revenue.

Juror appreciation:

This is Juror Appreciation Week in Lake County, when court officials tip their hats to the men and women who do the heavy lifting in the justice system.

Circuit Judge Margaret Mullen said about 9,000 county residents will report for jury duty this year to decide the more than 260 cases that eventually go to trial.

Jurors serving this week will be honored by a special county board proclamation recognizing their service, public service announcements in the media and speaker programs explaining the jury trial system.

And the biggest show of appreciation of all is that this week's jurors will only have to take four days off work to do their duty, because courts are closed today for Columbus Day.