Vaughan: ‘Justice’ in Adrian’s removal from the bench

Cameron Vaughan cried when she read the news regarding the Illinois Courts Commision’s removal of Circuit Judge Robert Adrian Friday afternoon.

“I read he had been removed and I just started crying,” Vaughan said.

Adrian found Drew Clinton, 18, guilty of felony criminal sexual assault against Vaughan following a three-day bench trial in October 2021. Then, on Jan. 3, 2022, Adrian vacated Clinton’s conviction, resulting in Clinton being released from the Adams County Jail.

Vaughan, who is living in Joplin, Mo. and starting a new job in an ophthalmologist’s office, said she was under the impression it would be weeks before the commission would issue a ruling. But she began receiving texts Friday afternoon and after reading the Muddy River News report, she shared it on her Facebook page with the comment ” Real Justice”.

“I’m so happy the commission saw the wrong he (Adrian) has done,” she told Muddy River News. “I’m so happy Adrian can’t hurt anyone else or ruin their lives.”

Vaughan said while Clinton can’t get “full justice” because of double jeopardy laws, she said this decision to remove Adrian will bring her closure.

“I guess that’s justice enough,” she said.

Megan Duesterhaus, CEO of QUANADA, also issued a statement following the decision:

“Today we are grateful to the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board and Illinois Court Commission for a decision that removes Robert K. Adrian from the judicial bench in the Eighth Circuit. The Illinois Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights guarantees survivors “the right to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy and to be free from harassment, intimidation, abuse throughout the criminal justice process.” Robert K. Adrian’s actions in the Drew Clinton case grossly violated the Illinois Constitution and Illinois statutes that convey these rights to crime victims. This decision reassures survivors of sexual violence that they can have confidence in the criminal justice system in Illinois knowing that if they are mistreated it will not be without consequence and accountability.

“Over the past two years, we have heard the voices of many survivors, their loved ones, and grassroots volunteers from our community. To everyone who has supported us on social media, sent letters, emails or texts, signed the change.org petition, joined a protest, or made a donation – you gave us hope and made it possible to keep fighting for survivors. Most importantly, we acknowledge the huge burden that Cammy took on by speaking truth to power. She did this not for herself, but to protect other survivors from being harmed by Robert K. Adrian and the court. It was a privilege to be able to support her. To put it simply, she’s a queen.”