Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 725 ILCS 185/21

  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
     Pretrial services agency reports completed following the first appearance shall be immediately referred to the judge who there presided; to any judge to whom the proceedings have been assigned for next hearing or trial; or in the event of their unavailability to a judge or group of judges designated for that purpose by the chief judge of the circuit. At the request of the court, or any party or counsel to the action, a hearing shall be scheduled with appropriate notice to review the interviewee’s release or detention status. At the hearing, the factual findings, conclusions, and recommendations in the report may be challenged by the interviewee, his or her counsel, or the prosecuting attorney, by the presentation of any relevant evidence.