Cook County Judge Arrested For Battery Removed From Bench

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 12, 2012 9:45PM

Timothy Evans, Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Cook County, announced that Judge Cynthia Brim has been removed from all of her judicial duties today, days after she was arrested for shoving a sheriff's deputy and tossing a set of keys at him at the Daley Center courthouse.

Brim's arrest came a day after she had a bizarre outburst while presiding over traffic court at the Markham courthouse. A source told the Sun-Times Brim ranted about south suburban towns only targeting black and Hispanic drivers for traffic infractions. She complied when she was asked to leave the bench. During the Friday incident that led to her arrest, Brim approached deputies asking if they found a set of keys, without ever identifying herself. Deputies pointed at three sets they had. Brim grabbed a set and walked off.

She returned a short time later with the set, tossed them at a deputy and shoved him in the chest. Brim was charged with misdemeanor battery and later released on her own recognizance.

In announcing the move to remove Brim from her duties by the Circuit Court's Executive Committee, Evans wrote, "Judge Brim has been formally charged with the commission of a crime which reflects adversely upon her fitness to serve."

Brim was one of four judges reassigned by Evans after a 2010 investigation by Fox News Chicago and the Better Government Association into judges leaving their jobs before well before their 4 p.m. out time.