Cook County Judge Thomas Nowinski has been permanently removed from domestic violence cases after he refused to detain a man charged with a violent domestic attack in October. This decision came just a month before the man went on to kill his wife. Chief Judge Timothy Evans made the announcement on Thursday night following the release of evidence related to the November 19 stabbing in Portage Park.
The incident, witnessed by an off-duty Chicago police officer, ended with the alleged murderer, Constantin Beldie, driving away from the scene and later found dead from inhaling his vehicle’s exhaust. It was later revealed that Beldie had killed his wife while wearing an ankle monitor ordered by Judge Nowinski, sparking outrage from advocates for domestic violence victims.
In response to the public outcry, Evans ordered an internal review of the court’s handling of the October court hearing and the administration of its GPS electronic monitoring program. The investigation found that Nowinski’s decision to release Beldie on October 9 was based on incomplete information presented by the State’s Attorney and the defense attorney, who claimed Beldie had no prior history of domestic violence.
Furthermore, the investigation uncovered problems in the court’s GPS electronic monitoring program, including a technician’s failure to notify the court that Beldie had violated monitoring conditions just one day after his release. As a result, the technician was suspended and later resigned during the disciplinary process.
In light of these findings, Evans outlined several changes to address the shortcomings identified in the investigation. These changes include collaborating with the State’s Attorney’s Office to ensure judges are presented with complete information about defendants’ criminal history and civil actions, implementing a risk assessment tool that includes survivor interviews, and updating policies for defendants violating GPS monitoring conditions.
Effective January 21, Judge Nowinski will be transferred to the Third Municipal District to hear misdemeanor and traffic-related cases. This transfer comes at the request of Judge Nowinski and his Presiding Judge, Judith Rice, who oversees the Domestic Violence Division.
In addition to Nowinski’s reassignment, Judge Caroline Glennon-Goodman will also join the Third District traffic court after being reassigned for circulating a controversial image involving an ankle monitor. Previous reporting by CWBChicago highlighted Nowinski’s low approval rate for detention requests in domestic violence cases, leading to his temporary removal from such matters in November.
Following Nowinski’s reassignment, judges who took over his duties granted a higher percentage of detention requests, signaling a shift in judicial decision-making in domestic violence cases. Overall, the changes implemented by Evans aim to improve the handling of domestic violence cases and ensure the safety of victims in Cook County.
