Chicago judge is reassigned to administrative duty indefinitely after shocking footage shows her locking a young child in a courthouse jail cell to 'teach her a lesson for behaving badly'
- Cook County Judge Jackie Portman-Brown on Wednesday had her reassignment to administrative duties extended indefinitely
- She was seen on video leading a young child, believed to be related to her, into a courtroom holding cell on February 19
- When court deputies refused an order from the judge to lock the child up, sources say Portman-Brown took the girl into the cell herself
- The child is believed to have been locked up for less than 10 minutes but was described as being 'emotional' during the ordeal
- Portman-Brown's new administrative duties may include performing marriage ceremonies and doing legal research; she also will receive mentoring
Chicago Judge Jackie Portman-Brown has been reassigned to administrative duties indefinitely over a video showing her leading a child into a holding cell for misbehaving
A Chicago judge who was seen on video leading a young child, believed to be a relative of hers, into a courtroom holding cell has now been removed from the bench indefinitely.
The 18-member Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County on Wednesday announced that Judge Jackie Portman-Brown has been reassigned to administrative duties 'until further notice.'
Portman-Brown was seen in surveillance footage two weeks ago leading the child into an empty cell after lecturing her about behaving badly and when sheriff's deputies refused an order to lock the child up, sources say.
Portman-Brown is seen marching the girl into the cell herself while still wearing her judicial robe.
In the footage, Portman-Brown is seen leading the child, believed to be her relative, into the cell behind her court while still wearing her judicial robe
Portman-Brown was seen in the footage leading the child into the cell after sources say sheriff's deputies refused an order from her to lock the child up
The video footage shows Portman-Brown exiting a holding cell behind her courtroom where she left a young child locked up for behaving badly
The child is believed to have been locked up for less than 10 minutes but was described as being 'emotional' during the ordeal, WGN reports.
The two Cook County sheriff's deputies seen in the video have been assigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of an investigation.
As part of her reassignment, Portman-Brown will be reporting to the First Municipal District to perform administrative duties, which can include doing legal research, conducting marriage ceremonies and reviewing petitions for reduced court-filing fees.
Portman-Brown also will receive mentoring, according to the court statement.
The Executive Committee, chaired by Chief Judge Timothy Evans, plans to report the incident to the Judicial Inquiry Board for further review, raising the prospect of additional disciplinary measures for Portman-Brown.
Surveillance video revealed that the child was brought into the courtroom, where Portman-Brown hears adult felony cases, by an unidentified woman on February 19.
The video footage then shows both the judge and woman initially dragging the child, who is about 6 to 8-years-old, out of the courtroom. They take the child through a sheriff's work space and into a holding cell area.
Additional footage then shows the judge personally taking the child into the cell.
Portman-Brown is later seen leaving for the day with the child and the unidentified woman who brought her.
Surveillance video revealed that the child was brought into the courtroom, where Portman-Brown hears adult felony cases, by an unidentified woman (pictured)
The footage further reveals both the woman and judge dragging the child through a sheriff's work space. The child's image has been blacked out
The footage shows Portman-Brown (center), along with the unidentified woman who brought the child, dragging her as a third, unidentified woman watches
All exited a back door reserved for court staff.
The chief judge learned of the incident a week later and took action.
'Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans [reassigned] judge Jackie Marie Portman-Brown to administrative duty, pending a meeting of the executive committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County on March 4,' said court spokesman Pat Milhizer.
A graduate of Western Michigan University and Thomas M Cooley Law School, Portman-Brown was first elected to the bench in 2008 after serving as a county prosecutor and then as general counsel for the Independent Police Review Authority.
She was retained on November 4, 2014, for a second term that expires in December.
