Woodstock Court - June 10

Ever been to Woodstock's Administrative Adjudication Court? The one that meets in City Hall on the second Thursday of each month? You ought to stop by for a visit. Make it an "unofficial" visit, if you can.

This is a court that cares about people. For example, instead of ordering everyone to appear at the same time (the opening bell) and then sit and cool their heels until their case is called, Judge David G. Eterno's court runs differently. This morning there were three calls on the schedule: 9:30AM, 10:30AM and 11:30AM.

What kind of cases were heard today? Furnishing alcohol to a minor; minor in possession of alcohol; truancy (lots of those); selling tobacco to a minor; minor in possession of alcohol; and disorderly conduct (fighting).

If you are a parent who has kids who even think about being truant or sneaking a drink or a smoke, take them for a visit to Judge Eterno's courtroom. Your future problems might just dry up.

Judge Eterno carefully explains the difference between his court and the courtrooms over in the Circuit Court at the McHenry County Government Center. He tells the "audience" that they should consider themselves lucky to be cited into his court, and they are. He explains the difference between "Liable" and "Guilty".

Over the next few days I'll describe a few of the cases that were heard and decided this morning.