Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced Monday the appointment of Judge James P. Flannery, Jr. as Presiding Judge of the Law Division effective immediately. Judge Flannery, currently a trial judge in the Law Division, fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Law Division Presiding Judge William D. Maddux who retired Jan. 11, 2014.

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans was elected to a fifth term as chief judge Tuesday by an overwhelming majority of circuit judges voting. His new three year term will begin December 2, 2013.

The results were announced by Judge Raymond L. Jagielski , chair of the Judicial Election Committee, who said Chief Judge Evans ran for re-election unopposed. Other committee members included: Judge Mary Ellen Coghlan, Judge Lynn M. Egan, Judge Marya Nega, Judge Leida J. Gonzalez Santiago, Judge Jane Louise Stuart, Judge Shelley Sutker-Dermer, and Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr.

According to Jagielski, the election was held today, September 10, 2013, in the Richard J. Daley Center’s Jury Assembly Room. Jagielski said 239 votes were cast; of those, seven were spoiled and the remaining 232 were cast for Chief Judge Evans.

Traffic offenders’ nationwide driving court record data to be available at sentencing

Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County Timothy C. Evans announced that, for the first time ever, prosecutors throughout Cook County will receive data from nationwide court records for traffic offenders enabling them to provide judges with better information at the time of sentencing for minor traffic cases, thanks to a collaboration between the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois Secretary of State and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

"From the judges’ viewpoint, this is a tremendous leap forward in their ability to help keep the public safe by keeping dangerous drivers off the road. Judges hearing traffic matters rely on prosecutors to provide the most complete information possible at the time of disposition and sentencing,” said Chief Judge Evans. “Our goal is to ensure that prosecutors working in traffic courtrooms throughout the Circuit Court receive comprehensive information, so that judges can take it into account before exercising their discretion,” said Chief Judge Evans.