Joliet Township Trustee Removed From Office Over Past Felony Conviction(s) –

Joliet, IL. (ECWd) –

According to the Herald-News and the Court’s Docket, Joliet Township Trustee Karl Ferrell was removed from office by a Will County Judge, because he had multiple past felony convictions which prohibit him from serving as an elected official of a township.

The Court also issued an immediate Stay on his removal through noon on July 25, 2022, to afford Ferrell the opportunity to appeal the decision to the appellate court.

See the Illinois Township Code, Section 55-6:  “<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: small;">Criminal conviction. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: small;">A person is not eligible to hold any office if that person, at the time required for taking the oath of office, has been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony."</span>

When notified by the Will County State’s Attorney of his felony disqualifications for the township office, Ferrell filed a petition for clemency or restoration of rights, which has not been heard by the Prisoner Review Board. The PRB may hear the petition during its July 12, 2022, meeting.

If township residents had been doing their duty to monitor government, they could have objected to Ferrell’s election petitions and asked the electoral board to remove him from the ballot, which we have no doubt they would have removed him. This could have been handled prior to the election, but know it is left to the State’s Attorney and the Courts.