Judicial Board: Judge Who Let Clerk Hear Cases "Mentally Unable To Perform Her Duties"

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A complaint was filed Friday against a judge who allegedly allowed a former law clerk and judicial candidate to don judicial robes and preside over cases in her Markham court earlier this year.

The complaint, filed by the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board, alleges that Circuit Judge Valarie E. Turner is "mentally unable to perform her duties," according to a statement from the board.

According to the complaint, Turner allowed Rhonda Crawford, a former law clerk and staff attorney for the circuit court, to wear Turner's judicial robes and sit on the bench Aug. 11 to adjudicate traffic ticket cases at the Markham Courthouse.

The complaint also alleges that Turner was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and has "suffered and continues to suffer from memory loss, and is mentally unable to perform her duties."

Turner's attorney, Gino DiVito, said there was no reason for the Judicial Inquiry Board to file a complaint with the Illinois Courts Commission:

"Ms. Turner is charged with no misconduct. She therefore has done nothing that would justify any sanction that could be imposed by the Commission.

"In essence, the Judicial Inquiry Board has charged her only with having Alzheimer's disease. This sets a terrible precedent for any judge who, like Ms. Turner, has an illness that she did not cause and cannot control.

"Ms. Turner is on medical leave and no longer has judicial responsibilities. She is applying for disability status, which is a matter to be determined solely by the Board of Trustees of the Judges' Retirement System.

"In short, Ms. Turner has already effectively retired as a judge, and there is no issue for the Courts Commission to determine."

Crawford won the primary election for a seat in the 1st Judicial Subcircuit in March and ran unopposed in the general election. However, she had not been elected or sworn in as a judge at the time that she heard the traffic cases in August, according to the inquiry board.

Crawford's law license was suspended by the state Supreme Court in October. The court's ruling also barred her from taking office after being elected.

Crawford has been charged with a felony count of official misconduct and a misdemeanor count of false impersonation. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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