Warrant issued for no-show attorney


By CORINA CURRY‚ Rockford Register Star

ROCKFORD — Circuit Judge Richard Vidal ordered a no-bond
arrest warrant Thursday morning, and it wasn’t for the typical crook on
the lam. It was for a suit-wearing, law-degree-holding, big city attorney
who can’t seem to find his way to Vidal’s bench in Room 314 of the
Winnebago County Courthouse.

Jimmie L. Jones of J.L. Jones and Associates of Chicago is handling
the longest pending murder case in Winnebago County, and he’s been
late or failed to show up five times now since the trial was supposed to
start Jan. 5.

On Thursday, Vidal put his proverbial foot down and called for Jones’
arrest for contempt of court. No-bond means Jones cannot pay money
to get out of jail and likely will have to stay under arrest until he is
brought before Vidal.

Jones, who is representing 22-year-old Byron Williams of Chicago on
first-degree murder charges, sent Vidal a fax Thursday morning saying
he is under a 30-day suspension from the Illinois Attorney Registration
and Disciplinary Commission and cannot practice law. Vidal said the
suspension was no excuse for Jones’ absence.

Vidal scratched the case’s Feb. 2 trial date Thursday and set a status
hearing for Feb. 25. Jones’ suspension for neglecting to file a criminal
appeal in another case should be lifted Feb. 20.

Williams told the court that he wanted some time to think about
whether he wanted to keep Jones as his attorney.

“I know his actions have caused a lot of uproar. I’m mad about it also,”
Williams said. “I can’t talk to him, either. I don’t know what’s going
on.”

Williams has been in Winnebago County Jail on $1 million bond since
Oct. 10, 2000. He is accused of killing 24-year-old Donny Selmer of
Oak Park on Oct. 1, 2000, in Rockford.

Williams’ mother, Pearl, informed Vidal that she’s not happy about
Jones’ failure to appear.

“I’m upset, too,” she said. “I paid for Mr. Jones. If he’s not going to be
his attorney, then I want to speak to him.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Wendy Larson said calls to Jones’ office go
unanswered.

OMG!!! :eek:
Williams told the court that he wanted some time to think about
whether he wanted to keep Jones as his attorney.

I don't think I would need any time to think about it!!!

ITS a NIGHTMARE for someone to have a pending case and I cant imagine having a bad attorney to make things worse! I believe EVERYONE who represents the legal system... states attorneys and criminal attorneys and cops need alot more accountablity than they have!!!!

Sad but true. The state defender who represented my guy at trial, was put to jail during one court period because he crushed a high school prom while drunken. After the trial was over, the State fired him straight ahead. He moved to a different state, represented another client in a murder case and messed again. This client filed a grievance about bad representation. As usual, it was dismissed.

I won't even start to list how negligent and incompetant the state defender was in Tony's trial. This was a major factor in his being railroaded to Death Row and even the Supreme Court have stated just how bad this attorney was with regard to Tony's case. Problem is - Tony's STILL in prison!!!!

Rose

Rose, I am at a point of wanting to learn more about the law to get my guy out. It is hard to know where to start. I sure don't have thousands of dollars for attorneys, either. I might like to have a conference with one for direction. My guy was spending time in seg going thru his transcript, and was getting agitated with all the lies, he said. It was interesting, someone posted two groups in the Chicago area that work for innocent inmates, and I wrote the names of those in a letter. I didn't have addresses. He was writing me a letter before he got my letter, and was writing one of those groups. He's written me in bits and pieces about his case. I wish I could have hours to sit with him, with his notes, and me with paper and pen, and for me to get all the details straight. I have to say, I really haven't wanted to get into this with him, but there is no one else to do it. He keeps saying "you're smart, you'll figure out something". such confidance.

CET.
I know exactly how you feel, I'd love to be able to sit and go over thibgs with Tony, too. He does manage to get things to me. I was given quite a bit of info when I was last over, he'd had it all approved for me to pick up on a visit. And I can find out a lot from his attorneys, biut I don't like to bother them too much. And we don't know for how much longer they are going to be allowed to stay with him.

There are so many inmates requiring help that it's just impossible for all the innocence projects to help everyone and it seems that, once the state have ci=onvicted someone they just don't care how much evidence there is to the contrary, they just throw away they key and forget them.

What the hell can we do when we're faced with this? Sorry, I think it's all getting the better of me this week. I've been coping with builders, decorators, having to organize everything, clearing up after them, and all I want is for Tony to be here to take all the strain away. I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself I think, but I suppose our men would gladly swap all my little dramas for the chance of freedom!!

Rose