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Post by doctorwho on Sept 26, 2010 7:14:19 GMT -6
By Sun-Times Media Sep 25, 2010 10:00PM
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A DuPage County judge fined and placed on probation for a June hit-and-run crash with a parked car now faces disciplinary action that could result in his removal from the bench.
The Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board on Friday filed a complaint against Judge Kenneth Popejoy contending his actions following the June 29 collision brought his “judicial office into disrepute.”
In a statement, Popejoy said he “fully expected” to be hit with a judicial complaint and he promised to cooperate with the Illinois Courts Commission as it investigates his actions surrounding the nighttime crash in Glen Ellyn.
“I regret my actions regarding the incident and am working hard to put the matter behind me and restore any trust the public may have lost in me,” Popejoy said in his statement.
The veteran, 59-year-old judge struck a parked car with his Jeep, but didn’t stop or report the crash.
Instead, he continued driving to his Wheaton home, at one point forcing a 13-year-old jogger to abruptly jump out of the way of his vehicle, authorities said following the crash.
During his first court appearance last month, Popejoy pleaded guilty to reckless driving. He was fined $500 and placed on six months of conditional discharge, a type of non-reporting probation.
If the Illinois Courts Commission determines he acted improperly, it could impose a range of punishments ranging from a simple reprimand to removing him from his judicial post.
Popejoy has been on the bench since 1997 and faces a retention vote this fall to retain his seat.
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Post by Arch on Sept 26, 2010 10:14:55 GMT -6
Dear Ken,
There is no trust to restore. Had the jogger not been on their guard you would have hit them too.
I think you should do the HONORABLE thing and remove yourself from the bench NOW and seek help from AA.
======
I hope everyone votes NO in November when asked if he should retain his seat.
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Post by doctorwho on Sept 26, 2010 10:16:45 GMT -6
Dear Ken, There is no trust to restore. Had the jogger not been on their guard you would have hit them too. I think you should do the HONORABLE thing and remove yourself from the bench NOW and seek help from AA. ====== I hope everyone votes NO in November when asked if he should retain his seat. Had that vote locked in BEFORE this incident |
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Post by macrockett on Sept 26, 2010 19:09:01 GMT -6
Carma.
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Post by casey on Sept 27, 2010 6:17:17 GMT -6
I was suprised to see the same article in today's Sun. I thought there would be no way would the Sun cover the article.
Maybe Popejoy is a done-for judge? I'm not saying he should or shouldn't still be on the bench but personally I've never understood the concept of voters voting on whether a judge should retain their seat.
As you said, Mac, karma is a b*tch.
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Post by macrockett on Sept 27, 2010 7:21:28 GMT -6
thanks for the proper spelling Casey...Karma www.criminallawyerillinois.com/2010/02/19/what-are-the-penalties-for-leaving-the-scene-of-an-accident-in-illinois/What are the penalties for leaving the scene of an accident in Illinois? by Lewis Gainor on February 19, 2010 in Class 2 Felonies, Class 4 Felonies, Class A Misdemeanors, Statutory Summary Suspension, Traffic Tickets The law in Illinois makes leaving the scene of an accident a serious criminal offense that can result in incarceration. If you have been involved in a crash and drove away, you should talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Drivers who are involved in an accident involving property damage without injury or death must provide information to the other driver(s). Failure to do so can result in a Class A misdemeanor charge. See 625 ILCS 5/11-402. The penalty for this offense is up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500.If you are charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident and the court finds you guilty, the Secretary of State will suspend your driver’s license if it is determined that the damage to any vehicle is over $1,000.
An accident involving property damage less than $1,500 does not have to be reported to the police. However, if any vehicle involved in the wreck is uninsured and there is more than $500 in property damage, the accident must be reported to the police.
All drivers involved in accidents must file an Illinois Crash Report at the nearest police department if the crash resulted in the death of a person, bodily injury, or more than $1,500 in property damage. See 625 ILCS 5/11-406. A driver is required to report an accident regardless of who was at fault for causing the crash.The Illinois Crash Report is available at the police station and should be sent to the Illinois Department of Transportation no later than 10 days after the crash. Failure to submit the report may cause the Secretary of State to suspend your driver’s license. If you crashed into a parked car, you have to report the accident. See 625 ILCS 5/11-404. Any driver involved in an accident resulting in damage to an unattended vehicle must leave his or her name, address, telephone number, and license plate on the vehicle and notify the police. Failure to leave such information and report the accident to the police may result in a Class A misdemeanor offense.
Leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury or death is a felony offense. Personal injury is defined as any injury that requires immediate medical care. It is a Class 4 felony offense (1-3 years prison) to leave the scene without providing information and assistance to the injured driver(s). See 625 ILCS 5/11-401. If you leave the scene and fail to report the accident within 30 minutes to the nearest police station, the offense is a Class 2 felony (3-7 years prison). The police have a right to request a chemical test of your blood, breath, or urine to determine whether you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs for at least 12 hours after the time of the accident. Failure to submit to such a test will result in a summary suspension of your driver’s license.Conviction for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury or death will cause the Secretary of State to revoke your driver’s license. |
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Post by macrockett on Sept 27, 2010 7:26:51 GMT -6
articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-09-25/news/ct-met-dupage-judge-complaint-0926-20100925_1_disciplinary-hearing-popejoy-associate-judgeDuPage judge faces state disciplinary hearing
Judge pleaded guilty in reckless-driving case
September 25, 2010|By Art Barnum, Tribune reporter
DuPage County Judge Kenneth Popejoy has been cited in a complaint filed Friday by the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board that says he brought his "judicial office into disrepute" during a reckless-driving incident earlier this year.
The board is seeking a disciplinary hearing with the Illinois Courts Commission on the matter and is asking that action "deemed appropriate" be taken. The state commission has a wide range of remedies available, including removal from the bench, but recent hearings involving similar cases against other judges have most often resulted in letters of reprimand.Popejoy was fined $500 and sentenced to six months of court supervision, a lesser form of probation, after pleading guilty to reckless driving on Aug. 3.
He originally was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to give information after striking an unattended motor vehicle on June 29. According to court documents, Popejoy struck a parked vehicle in Glen Ellyn, then drove from the scene while the passenger-side front tire of his 2003 Jeep was nearly off the rim. En route to his home in Wheaton, he disobeyed two stop signs and caused a 13-year-old to jump out of the way to avoid being struck. Popejoy, 59, who serves in the chancery division, has been a circuit judge since 2004 after serving as an associate judge since 1997. Popejoy has declined to speak publicly on the case, citing a possible state hearing. After he was sentenced, Popejoy issued a statement saying he acted "in a moment of panic" and his decision to leave the scene and drive home "was an error in judgment that was inconsistent with my values and how I have lived my life." His attorney could not be reached for comment Friday. abarnum@tribune.com
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Post by treehugger on Sept 27, 2010 20:31:25 GMT -6
Wow, he must have been in a real hurry to get home.
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Post by EagleDad on Nov 2, 2010 10:30:00 GMT -6
Bump - I hope everyone has a chance to get to the polls today and reward the honorable judge Kenneth Popejoy for his recent demonstration of leadership in our community.
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Post by Arch on Nov 2, 2010 10:34:30 GMT -6
SHALL EACH OF THE PERSONS LISTED BE RETAINED IN OFFICE AS JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT?
...
...
Kenneth L. Popejoy
NO
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Post by moneypit on Nov 2, 2010 11:10:45 GMT -6
I did the same. NO, bye now.
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Post by moneypit on Nov 2, 2010 11:39:04 GMT -6
The toughest question of the day goes to Doc, however, relative to the Waubonsie vs Benet volley ball game at regionals, this week. Who are you voting for?!?!
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Post by doctorwho on Nov 2, 2010 11:55:39 GMT -6
The toughest question of the day goes to Doc, however, relative to the Waubonsie vs Benet volley ball game at regionals, this week. Who are you voting for?!?! As much as I love Waubonsie, know many of the players, and think highly of their coach -- I have to live at home and could never root against my daughter... Benet 3-0 this year vs. Waubonsie and I am afraid to say, it will be 4-0 after tonite. My green and gold stuff stays in the closet today funny though - Waubonsie's main weakness happens to be something it didn't have to be - if you get my drift. |
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Post by doctorwho on Nov 2, 2010 11:56:35 GMT -6
I did the same. NO, bye now. same here a big fat NO and made sure that circle was entirely colored in -- adios judgey |
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Post by moneypit on Nov 2, 2010 12:13:30 GMT -6
The toughest question of the day goes to Doc, however, relative to the Waubonsie vs Benet volley ball game at regionals, this week. Who are you voting for?!?! As much as I love Waubonsie, know many of the players, and think highly of their coach -- I have to live at home and could never root against my daughter... Benet 3-0 this year vs. Waubonsie and I am afraid to say, it will be 4-0 after tonite. My green and gold stuff stays in the closet today funny though - Waubonsie's main weakness happens to be something it didn't have to be - if you get my drift. I understand completely! Good luck to your daughter!! |
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