A Cook County judge has been restricted from hearing cases, after he was charged shortly before Thanksgiving with DUI in a traffic crash.
Police in suburban Hinsdale filed a complaint against Cook County Associate Judge Mohammed Ghouse on Nov. 23, accusing Ghouse of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was also charged with driving too fast for conditions or failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
After charges were filed against Ghouse, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced he and the Cook County Circuit Court’s Executive Committee had removed Ghouse from the bench, reassigning him to “administrative duties only.”
Evans said Ghouse’s case has also been referred to the Judicial Inquiry Board, for further investigation and potential action. The Judicial Inquiry Board is the agency authorized by the Illinois state constitution to handle complaints against sitting Illinois state court judges.
If the JIB determines more action is required, a complaint would then be filed by the JIB with the Illinois Courts Commission, which is empowered to discipline judges accused of misconduct, potentially including removal from office.
Ghouse has not been elected to the Cook County Circuit Court bench.
Rather, he was appointed to serve as an associate judge in 2016 at the age of 42, through a vote by the county’s circuit judges. His term is scheduled to expire in 2023.
Before being appointed to the bench, Ghouse worked first as an assistant Cook County State’s Attorney for six years. He opened a private law practice in 2005, according to a biography posted on Trellis.law.
According to Evans’ statement, Ghouse had been assigned to hear cases in the Fifth Municipal District courthouse in suburban Bridgeview.