The accused murderer of Kurt Milliman has had his court appearance location moved. Although even through this morning the Circuit Court records show that Timothy S. Smith's case (11CF000520) will be heard in Courtroom 302, the records are wrong. If you showed up there, you were in the wrong place.
Smith now will appear in Rights Court, which is conducted in the McHenry County Jail building. A Motion was approved by the judge on July 19 to move hearings to the Rights Court. He appeared there at 9:00AM today with his public defender, and the only business that was conducted was to continue the case to August 18th at 9:00AM.
What a total waste of time for the judge and the attorneys, both from the public defender's office and the office of the State's Attorney!
Because the audience and observers of the Rights Court are separated from the courtroom by a wall and security glass, the sound is amplified into the observation area. Judge Condon's voice was audible and understandable.
Because of the amplification system in the Rights Court I wasn't able to understand Assistant State's Attorney Michael Combs. He turned appropriately to face Judge Condon, and apparently the microphone did not pick up clearly what he was saying.
When the Public Defender spoke, her lips moved but no sound came into the observation room. Was her microphone turned off? Wouldn't you think someone would check the sound system?
Three corrections officers were in the hearing room, including one C.E.R.T. officer dressed in his SWAT gear. I guess he was worried enough about someone that he wore his armored vest into the courtroom. Was it pride or swagger? He was busy chatting up the other COs and often had his back to the inmate. I guess he wasn't too worried about the Northwest Herald reporter or me, who were the only observers.
Online court records should reflect the correct location for the hearings. "Rights Court" is a menu choice for the data-entry personnel, because it has been used in other cases.
Initially, Smith was appointed a public defender because the judge was concerned that he was appearing on a murder charge without representation. If Smith has not ever filed a financial affidavit with the Court, is he entitled to a public defender? Does he have assets or is a private lawyer available to him? How long will he go on a First-Degree Murder charge with a public defender?
See the next article (above) about Smith's other two charges.
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Gus says” Three corrections officers were in the hearing room, including one C.E.R.T. officer dressed in his SWAT gear. I guess he was worried enough about someone that he wore his armored vest into the courtroom. Was it pride or swagger?"
What a condescending statement. These correctional officers deal with people with zero respect for any human and will at little or no provocation inflict harm to anyone especially C/O.
A high percentage of C/O's wear protective vests. Every hear of the crudely made shanks and sharps the prisoners area able to devise? Also a fist to the chest is less harmful with a vest. But of course Gus see's no value, cuz he's a tough guy.
This is a job that I don't think you could ever handle. Some prisoner would have you on the floor crying like a little girl and then you'd blog about the Sheriff's failure to protect you.
You are off base here.
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