Cook County Judge Reassigned from Domestic Violence Cases After Releasing Man Later Accused of Killing Wife
Chief Judge Timothy Evans has ordered Judge Thomas Nowinski to be reassigned from the Domestic Violence Division, following the release of a man who later went on to allegedly kill his wife.
Background
Nowinski released Constantin Beldie, 57, on GPS monitoring after he was charged with choking and attempting to kidnap his wife, Lacramioara Beldie, 54, on October 9. Beldie was later found dead in a nearby car of an apparent suicide, and his wife was found stabbed to death in their Portage Park home on November 19.
Reassignment and Investigation
Evans announced the reassignment on Thursday, stating that Nowinski had requested to be transferred to the court’s Third Municipal District in Rolling Meadows, where he will hear misdemeanor and traffic cases starting Tuesday.
An investigation into the Beldie case concluded that the state’s attorney’s office gave an “incomplete presentation” during Beldie’s October 9 detention hearing, failing to disclose important background information about him.
Findings and Recommendations
Evans’ review of the case found that prosecutors did not object to Beldie’s defense attorney’s remark that he had no prior domestic violence history and that he had not violated any previous civil no-contact orders.
The investigation also revealed that a GPS technician failed to notify the court about Beldie entering an exclusion zone of his GPS monitoring a day after he was released on the device. The technician was suspended without pay and has since resigned.
Reforms and Next Steps
Evans has committed to strengthening protections for survivors of domestic violence and has proposed several reforms, including increasing collaboration between judges, prosecutors, and advocates to ensure judges are presented with complete information about a defendant’s criminal and civil history.
The court will consider implementing an additional layer to the risk assessment tool, which would involve interviews between prosecutors and alleged victims of a case, and will work to address staffing shortages in the Adult Probation Department’s Home Confinement Unit, which administers GPS monitoring.
Response from Advocacy Groups
The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, which had called for Nowinski’s reassignment, expressed appreciation for the court’s review of the case and its commitment to strengthening protections for survivors of domestic violence.
President and CEO Amanda Pyron said, “Domestic violence advocates must be part of the process as reforms are proposed and implemented in all areas of our justice system. We agree with the transfer of the judge at the center of this case and look forward to working with the State’s Attorney’s Office, Office of the Chief Judge, and the presiding judge of the Domestic Violence Division to keep survivors safe.”
FAQs
Q: What is the reason for Judge Nowinski’s reassignment?
A: Judge Nowinski has been reassigned from the Domestic Violence Division due to the release of a man who later went on to allegedly kill his wife.
Q: What reforms has the court proposed to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence?
A: The court has proposed increasing collaboration between judges, prosecutors, and advocates to ensure judges are presented with complete information about a defendant’s criminal and civil history, and will consider implementing an additional layer to the risk assessment tool that would involve interviews between prosecutors and alleged victims of a case.
Q: What is the current state of the Adult Probation Department’s Home Confinement Unit?
A: The unit is facing staffing shortages, and the court is working to address this issue.
