11th Judicial Circuit

Associate Judge Sarah Duffy has been picked to fill a vacancy in the 11th Judicial Circuit created by Judge Casey Costigan's retirement. Duffy is running unopposed to retain the seat in the November election.

McLean County Circuit Judge Casey Costigan is retiring Oct. 16 after 20 years on the bench. He said court transparency has increased during that time, and so has the ability of judges to divert certain litigants to problem-solving courts.

Mark Fellheimer was previously chief judge of Illinois' 11th Judicial Circuit, overseeing judges in five counties, including McLean County. He succeeds Chief Judge Casey Costigan, who retires in October.

New data spanning more than two decades of court records in McLean County shows two-thirds of people convicted on criminal charges do not reoffend.

Marcus Folks, 43, appeared for a sentencing hearing which stretched more than three hours Friday. Prosecutors called Folks' complaints a "self-inflicted wound" caused by his choices to fire a public defender three times and not show up for trial.

Judge Casey Costigan has served on the bench in McLean County since 2006, ascending to chief judge overseeing five Central Illinois counties since 2022. His seat is up for election in November, with a new chief judge to be announced later this year.

Chief Judge Casey Costigan and Associate Judge Amy McFarland said litigants aren't doing themselves any favors by using artificial intelligence in place of public defenders.

Hosted by the League of Women Voters, the event profiled three recent laws aimed at reforming bail, public defense and relief for formerly incarcerated people who've served their time.

The former prosecutor became a judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit in 2023. He presides over the circuit-wide Veterans Treatment Court.

Justices from the state's highest court say geographic disparities have affected access to public defenders, particularly in rural counties. A new law aimed at promoting equity across the state has two years to be fully implemented.