Judge James Booras of Waukegan, IL; Judge Roy Bean Wannabee

The Illinois Supreme Court presented James K. Booras with a law license in 1979 after he graduated from Lewis University Law School.

FYI: Judge Roy Bean was an infamous Justice of the Peace and saloon owner in Texas who called himself the "The Law West of the Pecos." Roy was also affectionately referred to as the Hanging Judge.  

The Illinois Supreme Court was duped into appointing Jimmy as a Circuit Court Judge for

Lake County in 2001. Prior to that Jimmy had his significant snout firmly implanted in the public trough for nearly 10 years as an associate judge in Waukegan.

Judge Booras was assigned to preside over the case involving a defendant charged with possession of a controlled substance. The defendant’s original bond was set at $2,000 and he was also was under a curfew order.

The defendant was represented by attorney Robert Ritacca of Waukegan. At a subsequent hearing on the matter, Booras heard that the defendant missed his curfew by 22 minutes. Booras immediately agreed to a request by Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle Pascucci to raise the defendant’s bond.

Unbelievably, Booras raised the bond from $2,000 to $75,000, which caused attorney Ritacca to tell Booras that he thought the bond ruling was “ridiculous.” At that point, Booras ruled that Ritacca was in contempt of court and fined him $500.

Subsequently, Booras raised the fine to $1,000. Moreover, Ritacca was placed in handcuffs, searched, and formally booked into jail.

As we speak (ca. July 2014), Booras the Roy Bean Wannabee continues to sit as a Lake County Circuit Court Judge in Waukegan, Illinois.