Judge Jails Witnesses?
- With a few days to go before the expected start of the trial for two purported gang members accused of killing 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee, a Cook County judge has locked up three witnesses whose testimony is crucial to prosecutors.
And the judge has issued an arrest warrant out for a fourth, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Judge Thaddeus Wilson ordered all four witnesses into custody in late August, after they failed to respond to subpoenas from prosecutors preparing for the trial of Dwright Boone-Doty and Corey Morgan.
Wilson in recent months has repeatedly bemoaned the slow pace of the case, which landed on his docket more than three years ago. At a hearing Wednesday, one of the witnesses, a 20-year-old woman, sobbed as she was led out of the courtroom after Wilson ordered her held in Cook County Jail without bond.
At least there's plenty of room in the jail since Dart has been letting everyone else go.
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
30 Comments:
Doty? Any relation to former 006th dist and U of C chief?
I doan' wanna go to jail! I dint see shit!
That’s gonna help for sure, lol. Everybody thinks it’s hard to find witnesses now. Just wait till word spreads that they jailed the witnesses. This job is getting easier every day. The powers that be are helping us to “stay fetal”
Damn well better hope they still remember how to maintain good order in that jail. If the next headline is "three key gang trial witnesses killed in Cook County Jail" it isn't going to end well; as your Kass link alludes to people outside of Chicago are starting to take note of how hosed up the city is.
What happens if they are pissed off and purposefully torpedo their testimony? Could this be counterproductive?
this isn't as uncommon as you think. I had two murder trials last year where they had to jail witnesses
..pfleger preachin's will be on a roll now!
The good judge did them a favor. They get to go on field trips to navy pier, have pizza parties, and learn how to make a grilled cheese sandwich.
This could have a chilling effect on witness cooperation.
The big question here is will Dart bring them pizza's?
Love the site. Always informative.
NOT ILLINOIS. NOT LAW.
Finally, a Cook Co judge with sense and backbone.
Let me get this straight:
Cook County jails the cooperating witnesses but releases the offenders?
Bizarro world.
Anonymous said...
That’s gonna help for sure, lol. Everybody thinks it’s hard to find witnesses now. Just wait till word spreads that they jailed the witnesses. This job is getting easier every day. The powers that be are helping us to “stay fetal”
9/08/2019 12:44:00 AM
If you understood police work you would know this is a necessary step. If these witnesses don’t appear for trial the case is lost. It won’t matter what they say once on the stand.
So in Crook County we jail the witnesses with no bond, but let the offenders out on I bonds? That sounds very democratic. Remember this the next time you see a crime committed. Look the other way and continue on.
It’s a common tactic used for witnesses when they flip at the last minute. They re already Grand Juried, This is an execution style murder of an 8 yr old boy. They can sit for a few days.
Only in socialist cook county can people be jailed and lose their freedom on a whim.
The only way these gang members come in to testify is from the lockup in a brown DOC uniform. As a gang prosecutor for most of my career as an ASA, we routinely arrested and locked up witnesses who failed to come in. If they flip and they made statements to police and prosecutors during the investigation, those prior statements come in at trial. I’m surprised Kim Foxx allows the ASAs to jail the witnesses.
Motel 26 -
I’m Tom Boe-Dart and “We’ll leave the light on for the pizza delivery person.”
Let’s see how long Judge Thaddeus Wilson keeps his bench at 26th Street, unless he was looking for a change of venue.
I’d like to see him throw a contempt charge against the slack-ass CCSAO for constant delays.
This delay maneuvering isn’t new, widespread nationally and likely a Restorative Justice tactic.
Fast track plea down to reckless conduct, no fine, court costs and expungement worthy.
Everyone will walk here, one way or another due to technicalities associated with such delays, be it mistrial or judicial prerogative.
Waste and money of time once again in Crooked County.
Hope theres at least plenty yellow slips getting deposited.
You really can't go much lower in age than 9 years.
Maybe the whole system will wake up when it gets down to 5.
I'm all in favor of this. A nine year old was brutally executed.
Judge Thaddeus Wilson is one of the few decent judges we have.
I wonder how come black lives matters and the other perpetually aggrieved activist groups don't have a problem with the " no snitching" culture when it applies to the murder of a 9 year old AFRICAN AMERICAN boy.
This practice brings up all sorts of legal issues - could pepperoni pizza be considered witness tampering?
What's wrong with Judge Wilson. Didn't he get the social justice memo from his boss, Timmy Evans. Such harsh treatment for the young lady who failed to respond to a subpoena. Silly Judge. Doesn't he know no one goes to jail. Its Cook County. He must be one of the old timers who still think his job is on the legit.
Next week Timmy will invite Wilson into his office for a reckoning and an accountability meeting. Bring him up to speed on how things are done in the new and more progressive social justice system.
We can jail uncooperative witnesses but we cant jail true hardcore criminals???? only in Crook County!!!
The witnesses were likely jailed for contempt of court, since a subpoena is an order of the Court, and refusal would be contempt. They'll be treated as hostile witnesses as well. Freaking losers want to keep the ghetto code of silence for a child murderer?? May they enjoy their stay at the No-Tell No-Show Motel.
Jalem Judge.
Get it?
Jail-Em-Judge, for their own protection.
The Dalton mother of four was shot in car with her kids next to her. Witnesses have come forward to give descriptions of shooters. That's apparently SO UNUSUAL that Trib article today states it as "unusual for witnesses to come forward in shooting situation". I'm sure these jailed witnesses are fretting their own life-expectation risks caused by "giving evidence".
Anonymous said...
That’s gonna help for sure, lol. Everybody thinks it’s hard to find witnesses now. Just wait till word spreads that they jailed the witnesses. This job is getting easier every day. The powers that be are helping us to “stay fetal”
9/08/2019 12:44:00 AM
If you understood police work you would know this is a necessary step. If these witnesses don’t appear for trial the case is lost. It won’t matter what they say once on the stand.
9/08/2019 09:13:00 AM
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I understand police and detective work just fine. I just don't care anymore about cases getting solved. The ASA's can fuck off.
Supposedly the young females father has direct ties with a well known director. This person is out alone / house alone per him and he does check the camera often to ensure it’s being followed. Just. Another way to jame up officers.. she’s been dropping slips everyday asking to get off that OA/HA status. She’s becoming best friends with the other inmates on the tier.
"That’s gonna help for sure, lol. Everybody thinks it’s hard to find witnesses now. Just wait till word spreads that they jailed the witnesses. This job is getting easier every day. The powers that be are helping us to “stay fetal” "
Prosecutors inform witnesses that failure to appear could result in a contempt petition-and jail--every day. Seldom does it happen - for the reason you mentioned. But this may help put witnesses on notice that the SAO is serious about getting them to court for trial. Well done Judge Wilson!
-30 year CC ASA (thankfully retired)
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