New and pretty much expected developments in recent stories

In the category of expected, as opposed to unexpected, developments in a couple of different stories:

Last Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court entered an Order 'terminating' its appointment of retired Judge Patricia H. Martin as an advisor to the Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts. Under the circumstances, this was an entirely predictable development.

Also last Thursday, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans banished Judge William H. Hooks to "restricted duties or duties other than judicial duties" (colloquially referred to as 'judge's jail') while inquiries are made into allegations made about Judge Hooks. The Chief Judge's statement, issued with the June 28 Order, notes that the Circuit Court's Executive Committee has referred the matter to the Judicial Inquiry Board, "which has the authority to investigate the matter." This order is consistent with the Circuit Court's pracitce in a number of recent situations where judges have been accused of inappropriate conduct or statements.

The actual outcome of any JIB inquiry will not be publicly known unless the JIB brings charges against Judge Hooks before the Illinois Courts Commission. There is nothing mysterious, and certainly nothing nefarious about this. It is the way the process works; that's how it is supposed to work under the Illinois Constitution. But, anyway, here's a link to the Chief Judge's Order.

These stories don't really mean much in the grand scheme of things. If news is defined as man bites dog, not dog bites man, stories like these come pretty close to the latter. Either story would be much bigger if the courts in question had not taken these actions.