11th Judicial Circuit

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.

Justices Elizabeth Rochford and Mary K. O'Brien said they were impressed by the state's only problem-solving court addressing child welfare cases. Their stop in McLean County was part of Rochford's effort to visit all 25 judicial circuits in Illinois.

The state's only circuitwide problem-solving court, formed in 2018, serves veterans charged with non-violent crimes in McLean, Ford, Livingston, Logan and Woodford counties. The program's graduation rate hovers near 90%.

County officials are aware of several attempts to gain access to personal information, including credit card numbers, by threatening arrest for missing jury duty in Logan County.

Young will primarily hear cases in Logan County, filling a vacancy left by Judge Bill Workman's retirement from the bench.