Illinois Judge Michael Cook Quits After Accused And Charged With Possession Of Heroin And A Gun; But Woo Are We To "Judge" A Judge?

Illinois Judge Michael Cook quits being a St. Clair County Circuit Judge after he was accused and charged charged with illegal possession of heroin and a gun. The federal heroin and gun offenses took place days after his buddy, another judge, died of a cocaine overdose.  As Cook quits his judge position after the illegal posession charges, his fellow colleagues are anything but surprised. But who are we to "judge?"

Federal prosecutors on Friday charged Cook, 43, with possession of heroin and having a gun while illegally using controlled substances. Judge Cook, whom is allegedly a heroin addict, has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond. Cook quickly saves face and quits his prestigious job.

Those charges came just hours after revelations that a fellow St. Clair County judge, Joe Christ, died in March of a cocaine overdose while staying with Cook at the Cook family's hunting cabin.

Christ was a former longtime prosecutor who died a little more than a week after being sworn in as an associate judge.  Cook has not been charged in Christ's death, just Cook's own fallacies.

Cook And Christ were known to snort cocaine on golf trips and at the Cook family's lodge where Christ later died.

Cook became an associate circuit judge in 2007 and was appointed a circuit judge in 2010, then won a six-year term later that year. Last week all of Cook's pending cases were reassigned to Circuit Judge Robert Haida.

County's chief judge, John Baricevic, received a resignation letter by one of his attorneys because Cook is currently in rehab.

Baricevic said he had expected Cook to resign.

"I'm not surprised under the circumstances," he said. "In one sense, it was a formality, but a very important one. Disciplinary procedures seeking him removed could have taken a very long time.

"He has accepted responsibility, and that has allowed us to move ahead," Baricevic said.

It is up to the Illinois Supreme Court to accept Cook's resignation and fill the vacancy, though spokesman Joe Tybor said the high court faces no time constraints to do so.

Colleagues of Cook give only high praise for the work that Cook has done. He is obviously addicted to some illegal substances and taking action for his mistakes by checking himself into a rehab clinic.

Michael Cook will most likely never be a judge again, but there is something to be said about a man who know he has a problem and instead of denying it, completely mans up.

So before we all "judge" him, let us all give the Illinois judge the benefit of the doubt.