Boone County prosecutor says County Board chairman wrong to talk to judge - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

By Georgette Braun
Rockford Register Star

Posted Jul. 30, 2015 at 3:59 PM
Updated Jul 30, 2015 at 4:53 PM

BELVIDERE — Boone County State's Attorney Michelle Courier told Boone County Board members this week that Chairman Bob Walberg had inappropriately told a judge handling a case against Plote Construction Inc. that he "did not approve of the lawsuit against Plote."

Courier said in a letter posted on the Boone County Community Forum Facebook page that "while there is a pending case, judges are forbidden to have ex parte communications about that case." She said Walberg's actions were "inappropriate." Courier said that Judge Rob Tobin had said in court Tuesday that he told Walberg he couldn't talk about the case and ended the conversation.

Walberg said today that he had called Tobin to talk about politics and the economy as he does sometimes but that his conversation "wasn't anything with the case. ... I didn't realize there was a problem." He said Courier, a Republican who is seeking re-election, is making the situation a political one.

Tobin asked Courier and an attorney for Plote whether they wanted him to withdraw from the case. Courier said in her letter to County Board members that she didn't. Courier could not be reached for further comment. Courier said in the letter that Plote's attorney had asked for a new court date to discuss the offer with Plote. An attorney for Plote could not be immediately reached for comment today.

Hoffman Estates-based Plote operates a quarry at 1050 Ecs Way, Belvidere. Courier had filed a lawsuit against Plote for operating beyond the hours approved by the County Board. She obtained a temporary restraining order that was violated, and she said in the letter that she had filed a motion for sanctions that was set to be heard Tuesday.

Above is from:   Boone County prosecutor says County Board chairman wrong to talk to judge - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

TO SEE THE ACTUAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM Judge Tobin and States Attorney Courier GO TO:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2015/07/actions-by-chairman-walberg-may-affect.html