A lawyer for a former Chicago court staff attorney fired after donning a robe and hearing real cases on the bench, says a grand jury could indict her soon. Rhonda Crawford's lawyer, Victor Henderson, says an impaneled grand jury could indict her before November's election. Crawford is running for a judgeship.
Crawford says she regrets overseeing several traffic cases. But she says the actual judge, Valarie E. Turner, stood over her the whole time and issued all rulings. Crawford was fired over the incident and Turner was removed from the bench indefinitely.
Henderson wouldn't say what charges Crawford potentially faces. He says her actions were, at worst, "a minor infraction." State prosecutors say they're investigating, but declined to comment regarding any grand jury.
