Federal Judge From Peoria Expected To Preside Over Cook Case
From the Belleville News-Democrat
A federal judge from Peoria is the likely choice to hear the drug and weapons violation case against former St. Clair County Circuit Judge Mike Cook.
A spokeswoman for U.S. District Court Judge Joe Billy McDade said he held a telephone conference Monday with the attorneys in the case. As soon as a formal order is received from the federal 7th Circuit Court in Chicago, McDade, "Will be the judge in that case," the spokeswoman said, adding, "It is expected that he will be."
The telephone conference involved dates previously set in the case that, at least for the time being, will remain the same. The final pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 23 and trial is set for Oct. 1.
McDade, 75, was nominated for the federal bench by President George H. W. Bush, a Republican, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1991. He was a state circuit court judge and former staff attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice Anti-Trust Division from 1963-65.
The case was assigned in the Southern District in East St. Louis to Chief Judge David Herndon, who recused himself, and then to U.S. District Court Judge William Stiehl, who also recused himself, stating he thought it would be "simpler" for a judge from outside the district to preside.
Herndon has said any judge from outside the district would most likely travel to federal court in East St. Louis to hold court.
Cook, 43, is charged with misdemeanor heroin possession and a felony count of being a heroin user in possession of a firearm. He resigned his judgeship and agreed to attend a drug rehabilitation center in Minnesota, also agreed to the suspension of his law license. He was released without being required to post cash.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Belleville News-Democrat
A federal judge from Peoria is the likely choice to hear the drug and weapons violation case against former St. Clair County Circuit Judge Mike Cook.
A spokeswoman for U.S. District Court Judge Joe Billy McDade said he held a telephone conference Monday with the attorneys in the case. As soon as a formal order is received from the federal 7th Circuit Court in Chicago, McDade, "Will be the judge in that case," the spokeswoman said, adding, "It is expected that he will be."
The telephone conference involved dates previously set in the case that, at least for the time being, will remain the same. The final pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 23 and trial is set for Oct. 1.
McDade, 75, was nominated for the federal bench by President George H. W. Bush, a Republican, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1991. He was a state circuit court judge and former staff attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice Anti-Trust Division from 1963-65.
The case was assigned in the Southern District in East St. Louis to Chief Judge David Herndon, who recused himself, and then to U.S. District Court Judge William Stiehl, who also recused himself, stating he thought it would be "simpler" for a judge from outside the district to preside.
Herndon has said any judge from outside the district would most likely travel to federal court in East St. Louis to hold court.
Cook, 43, is charged with misdemeanor heroin possession and a felony count of being a heroin user in possession of a firearm. He resigned his judgeship and agreed to attend a drug rehabilitation center in Minnesota, also agreed to the suspension of his law license. He was released without being required to post cash.
Read more in our daily News Update...