1,000 signatures reached
To: Honorable Timothy C. Evans: Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County
Reassignment of Chicago Judge Thomas E. Nowinski
We, concerned citizens of Cook County, respectfully request the reassignment of Judge Thomas E. Nowinski, currently serving on the Cook County Circuit Court. We ask that Judge Nowinski is reassigned and transferred from the domestic violence division due to continual gross endangerment of victims of domestic violence that have led to devastating outcomes in our communities.
The Case of Constantin Beldie and Lacramioara Beldie:
In October of this year, Constantin Beldie, 57, was charged with choking and attempting to kidnap his wife, Lacramioara Beldie, 54. Despite the severity of the charges and the fact that this was the second time Lacramioara Beldie sought protection from her husband, Judge Nowinski rejected prosecutors' request to keep Beldie in custody. Instead, Beldie was placed on GPS monitoring and other restrictions — a decision that failed to prevent the tragic outcome. Just one day after pleading not guilty to the charges, Beldie fatally stabbed his wife.
The Case of Crosetti Brand and Victim Jayden Perkins:
Earlier this year, Judge Nowinski denied a protective order for a woman who had been seeking safety from Crosetti Brand, a convicted felon with a history of domestic violence. Shortly after this decision, Brand went on to stab the woman and kill her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins.
We strongly urge the Honorable Chief Judge of Cook County Circuit Court to take immediate action to reassign Judge Nowinski from hearing cases involving domestic violence or, to remove him from the bench entirely. We ask for accountability for the victims' voices that cannot be heard today and for future domestic violence victims that already fear a system that may fail them, as it has Lacramioara Beldie and Jayden Perkins.
The Case of Constantin Beldie and Lacramioara Beldie:
In October of this year, Constantin Beldie, 57, was charged with choking and attempting to kidnap his wife, Lacramioara Beldie, 54. Despite the severity of the charges and the fact that this was the second time Lacramioara Beldie sought protection from her husband, Judge Nowinski rejected prosecutors' request to keep Beldie in custody. Instead, Beldie was placed on GPS monitoring and other restrictions — a decision that failed to prevent the tragic outcome. Just one day after pleading not guilty to the charges, Beldie fatally stabbed his wife.
The Case of Crosetti Brand and Victim Jayden Perkins:
Earlier this year, Judge Nowinski denied a protective order for a woman who had been seeking safety from Crosetti Brand, a convicted felon with a history of domestic violence. Shortly after this decision, Brand went on to stab the woman and kill her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins.
We strongly urge the Honorable Chief Judge of Cook County Circuit Court to take immediate action to reassign Judge Nowinski from hearing cases involving domestic violence or, to remove him from the bench entirely. We ask for accountability for the victims' voices that cannot be heard today and for future domestic violence victims that already fear a system that may fail them, as it has Lacramioara Beldie and Jayden Perkins.
Why is this important?
We ask for Cook County Community Members to sign this to petition Honorable Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans to take action now and reassign Judge Thomas E. Nowinski. We must stand together for the protection of our communities.