Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board
(This article appeared April 17 in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. It is reprinted here with permission.) “The law that applies to this case is stated in these instructions, and it is your duty to follow all of them.” So states Illinois Pattern jury instruction 1.01(2), which the judge reads to the jurors in every…
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QUINCY — Even after his removal as Eighth Circuit judge by the Illinois Courts Commission on Friday, Robert Adrian maintained his innocence in an interview late Friday afternoon with Muddy River News and called the ruling a “total political hit job.” Adrian found Drew Clinton, 18, guilty of felony criminal sexual assault following a three-day bench trial…
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CHICAGO — Mike Deno called Eighth Circuit Judge Robert Adrian’s explanation for why he reversed his guilty verdict in the Drew Clinton sexual assault trial “not believable,” refuting Adrian’s claim he changed his mind because Clinton wasn’t guilty and instead said Adrian tried to circumvent the law to avoid giving him a mandatory prison sentence.…
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CHICAGO — When testifying to the Illinois Courts Commission about Eighth District Judge Robert Adrian’s experience and knowledge in the 13 years he’s been on the bench in Adams County, Quincy attorney Drew Schnack took the opportunity to make a pitch to the seven commissioners. “It would be tragic to lose Judge Adrian,” Schnack said…
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CHICAGO — Asked what he thought about his hearing before the Illinois Courts Commission, which ended Wednesday afternoon, Eighth Circuit Judge Robert Adrian’s response was simple. “I have no idea,” he replied. The two-day hearing wrapped up with the testimony of three prosecution witnesses and one defense witness, along with closing arguments. Other than when…
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CHICAGO — Eighth Circuit Judge Robert Adrian said he made a “rookie mistake” when he found Drew Clinton guilty in a sexual assault case, then repeatedly admitted he made errors when he reversed his decision during a sentencing hearing on Jan. 3, 2022. “It’s hard to admit you make a mistake in a lot of…
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CHICAGO — A three-day hearing before the Illinois Courts Commission for Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Robert Adrian is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Lewis Nixon picked this week for the trial during a video conference in April. Adrian found Drew Clinton,…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A trial for Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Robert Adrian before the Illinois Courts Commission was set for November during a brief Zoom meeting Thursday morning. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Lewis Nixon set the trial for Nov. 7-9 in Chicago at a location to be determined. Nixon coordinated Thursday’s public video conference. Adrian…
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QUINCY — Attorneys on both sides were asking Thursday morning to set a November trial date for Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Robert Adrian before the Illinois Courts Commission. However, the meeting coordinator was a little leery about waiting that long. Attorneys for Adrian and the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board met for a public video pre-hearing…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Robert Adrian, who is subject to a complaint from the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board, will announce his intention Tuesday to seek retention as a judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit. Adrian sent an email to local media Saturday morning. He will kick off his campaign at 5 p.m. Tuesday in front of the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board filed a complaint on Friday against Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Robert K. Adrian. Adrian found Drew Clinton, 18, guilty of felony criminal sexual assault following a bench trial in October 2021, but then on Jan. 3, Adrian vacated Clinton’s conviction, resulting in Clinton being released from the Adams…
Read Full Article July 25, 2025
CLUB MUDDY: BRANDON VANCAMP
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