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Judge dismisses court costs suit Plaintiffs claimed circuit clerk improperly assessed fines; attorneys weighing next steps By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com A multimillion dollar lawsuit alleging the McHenry County circuit clerk improperly assessed fines on criminal defendants was dismissed this week in federal court. The class action lawsuit was filed by four plaintiffs, who at one time were facing charges in McHenry County ranging
from traffic tickets to DUI. All resulted in convictions, and each were court-ordered to pay a fine and “all court costs.” However, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued some of the dollar amounts assessed under the umbrella of “court costs” were in fact fines, and imposed by Circuit Clerk Katherine Keefe’s office, although she has no legal authority to do so. Only a judge can order fines.
They were seeking the fines be reimbursed to the four plaintiffs, and potentially upward of 40,000 others who were adjudicated through McHenry County’s court system. In McHenry County, a $60 speeding ticket can cost up to $247 once all fines and fees are factored in, while a DUI can cost more than $3,600. In dismissing the lawsuit on Monday, federal Judge
Frederick Kapala determined the plaintiffs were asking him to invalidate their sentences, which he said was “better suited for a direct appeal to the Illinois Appellate Court or other state court action, and the convictions or sentences must be invalidated before the … claim can be brought back to federal court.” Kapala tossed the suit, but left the door open for attorneys
to refile. One of the attorneys on the case, James Kelly, said the judge’s decision was on a “very narrow technical ground.” Kelly said he is weighing the next legal step that could include refiling in federal or state court, or appealing Kapala’s decision. “We do not believe the court would be called upon to invalidate any sentence,” Kel-
Farmers markets keep growing
ly said. “[The judge] decided on this narrow ground, and in his view it would require all of these sentences to be declared invalid and void. That’s not what we’re seeking.” The Illinois Attorney General’s Office represented Keefe, and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office represented McHenry County and McHenry County Treasurer Glenda Miller.
Temporary budget goes to Illinois governor Stopgap plan unlikely to get Rauner’s support The ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matthew Apgar – mapgar@shawmedia.com
Leslie Mueller of Lake in the Hills talks with customers July 4 at her Turtle Bay Naturals handmade soap vendor booth at the Woodstock Farmers Market.
Stands in county offer more than just fruits, vegetables By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com One of the biggest trends at farmers markets might not be a growing one. Rather, local vendors say it’s a butchered, knitted and milled one. As farmers markets continue to draw customers, vendors and market managers contend the complementary wares, such as breads, meats and handmade goods, create the full market experience. It’s a change in recent years that people like meat purveyor Nick Janovski believe is fueled by customers’ increasing desire for all things local. “I think that fruits and vegetables will always be the main draw of a farmers market,” Janovski said. “But you need to have good complementary farmers and small businesses to make the farmers market complete.” Janovski, the namesake at Farmer Nick’s, based on about 40 acres in Spring Grove, has sold meat to the Crystal Lake Farmers Market for 15 years. Crystal Lake’s
said Dale Hazlewood, a board member for the Illinois Farmers Market Association and the national Farmers Market Coalition. Hazlewood also is the market manager for the Aurora Farmers Market. “I think farmers markets are pretty much what the old main streets used to be,” Hazlewood said. “Just like main streets used to be the marketplace, they are once again becoming those meeting places and diverse economic engines.” He said the state farmers market association is in the midst of gauging what kinds of vendors make up the roughly 500 markets across the state. But he gets a sense that Northwest Herald file photo meat sellers are on the rise. HandArianne Albright (right) of Crystal Lake inspects radishes before buying them made soaps and knitted items also from Troy Edmonds of Edmonds Acres at the Woodstock Farmers Market last year. occupy a slew of booths, and knife sharpeners are starting to appear Saturday market is one of 14 he at“Farmers markets are more of a more often, Hazlewood said. tends to make a living selling grass- place where people shop weekly,” At the Woodstock Farmers Marfed pork, beef, chicken, turkey and Janovski said. “They come and ket, a producer-only market where eggs. buy a pound of bacon, a pound of vendors are required to show proof Janovski said customers often ground beef.” they grew or created the product, buy his products to go with vegetaMany farmers markets state- market manager Keith Johnson bles, breads and cheeses they also wide have departed from the strictpick up at the market. ly farm-stand feel they once had, See MARKET, page A6
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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers sent a stopgap budget plan Wednesday to Gov. Bruce Rauner, who likely will dismiss the one piece to emerge from a flurry of Capitol activity, which did little to move the state toward a yearlong spending agreement. Despite the first-year Republican governor’s well-known opposition, the Senate put up a partisan vote on a $2.3 billion, one-month budget to keep state government functioning, approved 39-0 with 15 voting “present.” Democrats, who have used provisional fiscal plans several times in the past decade, want to keep essential and emergency ser- David vices available during McSweeney the budget standoff. Rauner wants a per- Online manent fix. But the day’s Q State bursts of activity proRep. David vided more heat than McSweelight. ney will be M a j o r i t y D e m ocrats in the House participating readied but delayed a in a live chat final vote on funding on the state $18 million in addi- budget at tional July expenses noon Thursafter hearing some- day on www. times heart-rending NWHerald. testimony from cli- com. ents of state services on the struggles apparent two weeks into the state’s new fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Senate voted to override Rauner’s vetoes of several budget bills, although House reluctance spells certain failure, and a plan billed as a property tax freeze compromise with Rauner by Democratic Senate President John Cullerton fell short. The governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment and he did not make a public appearance. This spring, legislative Democrats were behind a $36 billion budget they acknowledged had a deficit of up to $4 billion. They want a tax increase to cover “vital” services, while Rauner has first demanded action on pro-business and political reforms such as restrictions on compensation for injured workers and officeholder term limits. The Senate’s interim financial
See BUDGET, page A5
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