CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Eviction court in DuPage County will reopen at the end of this month after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The judge who handles the cases expects to be very busy.
Judge James McCluskey said when the money from the stimulus runs out and with the high unemployment numbers, he can see a lot of eviction cases heading to his courtroom when eviction court reopens on June 30. He said his goal is to keep tenants in the premises.
"But at the same time, I understand that the landlords need to get paid; and the landlords are keenly aware of what is going on - everybody is aware of what's going on in this unusual time, so what we are trying to do is mediate the cases, come to a settlement agreement and payment plan, before the cases have to be tried and have to make a decision, which will lead to an eviction," McCluskey said.
To help settle disputes – which could number 200 cases on his busiest day - double what he saw before COVID-19, Judge McCluskey said he will get some help from DuPage County Bar Association volunteers, legal aid, and Prairie State Legal Services.
The judge said he wants to "level the playing field."
"Usually the landlords have attorneys, but the tenants are unrepresented. And I want to make sure they clearly understand their rights, and that with a skilled attorney to help mediate the case, I think we are going to have better results and it is going to be fair and just results," McCluskey said.
