A judge denied a defense request for further psychological testing of the former Bolingbrook police sergeant. Drew Peterson After determining that there was no genuine doubt as to the mental integrity of the convicted murderer.
Following Thursday’s ruling by Will County Judge Dave Carlson, Peterson asked the judge, “Can I approach the courtroom?”
After Peterson’s request was denied, he asked Carlson if he could ask him a question. One of his attorneys, Jason Strzelecki, interrupted Peterson, saying, “No, no, no.”
At the end of Thursday’s court hearing, Peterson said “thank you” before being escorted from the courtroom. This will be Peterson’s third court appearance, and likely his first in a while, since he filed a post-conviction motion in 2021 to overturn his conviction for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, 40. will appear in court.
Now that the issue of Peterson’s mental status has been resolved, his attorneys and prosecutors must return to responding to post-conviction petitions. Carlson said Monday that in his own research into post-conviction cases in Cook County, he found there was “real pressure” on judges to move these cases quickly.
Peterson, an attorney with the Will County Public Defender’s Office, has until May 31 to file arguments, and prosecutors have until June 28 to respond.
Carlson based his decision on the question of Peterson’s eligibility on a 1990 Illinois Supreme Court case. The People vs. Owens, Peterson’s psychological evaluation and his own interactions with Peterson earlier this year. A psychological evaluation was inconclusive regarding Peterson’s mental health.
Carlson said he did not consider any information obtained by the media in his decision. But one of Peterson’s attorneys said he had no idea he would be interviewed by Ashley Banfield on NewsNation.
Also on Thursday, Mr. Carlson filed a motion by Mr. Peterson’s former lawyer, Joel Brodsky, to dismiss an indirect contempt of court charge filed against him after his Feb. 28 appearance on NewsNation. Rejected.
Brodsky is accused of betraying his duty to a former client and violating a 2022 gag order imposed by former Will County Judge Ed Barmilla. This gag order was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Mr. Brodsky did not allege how he violated attorney-client privilege for the indirect contempt of court charge, which Mr. Carlson deemed a “felony,” and whether the crime was a serious violation. He argued that it had not been proven that it was a minor violation.
“This argument is flawed on its face,” Brodsky said.
After reviewing the case law on the issue, Mr. Carlson denied Mr. Brodsky’s request to dismiss the contempt charges. Brodsky then asked Carlson to begin the trial immediately on Thursday.
Carlson instead scheduled Brodsky’s case for May 1 before Will County Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre. Karlsson will come off the bench on April 30th.
There was a lengthy back-and-forth between Carlson and Brodsky about what they could say publicly about the incident. Mr. Carlson repeatedly reminded Mr. Brodsky not to talk to the media about Mr. Peterson’s expressions.
“Okay? God bless you, Joel,” Carlson said.
Special Prosecutor Bill Elward is in charge of the case against Brodsky. Elward was also part of the prosecution team against Peterson in the Randolph County trial, where he was convicted of abetting murder by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.
