State Agency Files Complaint Against Ex-Law Clerk Who Posed as Judge

CHICAGO, IL — A state agency has taken the initial steps in possibly punishing the former law clerk who posed as a Cook County judge in court over the summer.

The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission filed a formal complaint last week against Rhonda Crawford, who sat at the bench and heard three traffic cases in Judge Valerie Turner's courtroom Aug. 11. The complaint, which was filed Oct. 7, levels the following counts against Crawford:

• Dishonesty as a result of handling cases on a judge’s call while dressed in judicial robes and seated on the judge’s chair behind the bench
• Criminal conduct of official misconduct and false personation of public officer
• False statements in a disciplinary investigation

That last accusation stems from a sworn statement Crawford gave to investigators Sept. 22 about the August incident. In her statement, Crawford said wearing the robe didn't mislead people, because it was clear that she was being taught by Turner in the courtroom.

But the complaint contends the people in the courtroom didn't know this was a teaching situation, and Turner introduced Crawford to the prosecutor as "Judge Crawford."

RELATED: Ex-Law Clerk Who Posed as Judge: 'I Did Not Decide Any Cases'

The complaint now goes before the commission's hearing board, which will decide if there was any misconduct and recommend disciplinary actions.

Crawford was fired as the law clerk for Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans after reports of her impersonation surfaced. She also is running for the open judge seat in the 1st Judicial Subcircuit in November's election against Cook County Circuit Judge Maryam Ahmad, a write-in candidate who threw her hat into the ring after the August incident.

During a September press conference, Crawford said she regretted letting her ambition to be on the bench get the best of her. She also said she followed Turner's instructions the entire time she was in court and that she made no official decisions in the cases she presided over. However, those three cases — all minor traffic violations — were later reheard and dismissed.

photo via Shutterstock

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