Whiteside County Courts Remain in Holding Pattern
Criminal trials in Whiteside County remain stalled after a judge found problems in the way local residents are selected for jury duty. University of Chicago mathematicians reviewed the county’s jury pool system and concluded the process is not random enough to meet legal standards.
As a result, jury panels are being dismissed, leaving major criminal cases on hold until the issue is corrected. The ruling has created a growing backlog in the courts, with prosecutors, defense attorneys, defendants, and victims all waiting for proceedings to resume.