ILLINOIS STATE JUDICIAL INQUIRY BOARD'S REGULATOR FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST SUSPENDED COOK COUNTY JUDGE CYNTHIA BRIM

ILLINOIS STATE JUDICIAL INQUIRY BOARD'S REGULATOR FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST SUSPENDED COOK COUNTY JUDGE CYNTHIA BRIM

By Steve Schmadeke, Tribune, August 13, 2013

The state's judicial inquiry board filed a complaint today against a Cook County judge who was found not guilty by reason of insanity on battery charges last year.

Judge Cynthia Brim, who was assigned to the south suburban Markham courthouse, is charged with violating the state's code of judicial conduct by failing to respect and comply with the law and maintain order and decorum in her court proceedings. The board also alleges that Brim is "mentally unable to perform her duties unless she receives regular treatment."

Brim, who has been diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder with psychotic features, was charged in March 2012 with misdemeanor battery for shoving a deputy outside the Daley Center, a day after going on a lengthy tirade while on the bench in the Markham courthouse. She has been on what amounts to a paid suspension ever since.

While hearing a traffic call at the Markham courthouse on March 8, 2012, Brim stopped her work, sat silently for a few minutes and then told those in court that her grandmother had been raped by a white man, that the South Holland and Evergreen Park police departments were targeting blacks and Hispanics and that "justice is all about if you're black or white," according to the complaint.

The next day, she read a newspaper story about a Cook County judge who was using lots of sick leave and decided to complain to the judicial board, which disciplines judges, about what she viewed as an unfair story, according to evidence presented at her battery trial.

But she took the wrong bus and ended up on 47th Street, so she decided to make a "march for justice" up to the board's Loop offices. After walking more than five miles, she at some point went to her attorney's building but got off at the wrong floor and refused to leave a different attorney's offices.

That attorney later filed a complaint with the Judicial Inquiry Board.

Brim also went to the Daley Center. After standing in the lobby for about 15 minutes, she asked deputies if any keys had been left at the security station that day, officers testified.

She then left with a set of keys and returned a few minutes later, throwing her own keys on the floor as a protest against the unjust judicial system. Deputy Nicholas Leone testified that he noticed Brim's set included special security keys for opening courtrooms and judge's chambers in the building.

"I wanted to know why a civilian had those keys," Leone said.

Brim was walking east on Randolph Street and ignored requests from Deputy Herbert Edwards to stop, he testified.

Edwards said he finally stepped in front of her and stood his ground before she reached Dearborn Street. She then shoved him, he testified. The judge was taken to the lockup in the Daley Center's basement.

DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan &ndash who was brought in to hear the case – found Brim not guilty by reason of insanity in February.

sschmadeke@tribune.com