Posted : Friday, 20 June 2014 3:14PM

Illinois Courts Commission asked to discipline LaSalle County judge

Rick Koshko

news@ottawaradio.net

Chicago -- The Illinois Courts Commission is being asked to discipline LaSalle County Judge Joe Hettel. A complaint filed by the Judicial Inquiry Board says a judge should live up to a high standard of conduct and always conduct himself so the public respects the judiciary.
     Hettel pled guilty on May 21 to driving drunk on March 31 when he crashed into a parked car that got pushed into a utility pole in Ottawa. He was fined $2,000, put on court supervision for two years, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
     After his court case, he said he failed to set a good example as a father, a judge, and a coach. Friday, he said he admits the allegations in the Judicial Inquiry Board’s complaint and he hopes to have his case heard soon before the Illinois Courts Commission.
     The commission can simply reprimand a judge, suspended a judge without pay, or even remove a judge from office.