A McHenry County judge was charged after he allegedly drove his motorcycle at 93 mph and then crashed, leaving himself injured, as a sheriff’s deputy was conducting a traffic stop on him.
The incident happened around 10:10 a.m. on June 9 near Route 47 and Vanderkarr Road in unincorporated Hebron.
A McHenry County sheriff’s deputy on patrol clocked a motorcycle traveling at 93 mph, more than 35 miles per hour over the posted 55 mph speed limit, court records show.
The 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling northbound on Route 47 south of Vanderkarr Road.
The sheriff’s deputy reported that he was conducting a traffic stop on the motorcycle and that the motorcycle had just crashed.
The driver was identified as Jeffrey L. Hirsch, 55, of Woodstock, court records show.
Hirsch is a McHenry County associate judge who was appointed to the position in October 2015.
The sheriff’s deputy reported that the motorcyclist was complaining of left-side pain and requested the fire department to the scene.
Hirsch, who was conscious and breathing, was transported by ambulance to Mercyhealth Hospital in Harvard.
Northbound Route 47 was temporarily shut down until a tow truck could remove the motorcycle from the scene.
Hirsch was charged with one count of speeding over 35 mph over the limit, a Class A misdemeanor.
Court records show Hirsch filed a request to suppress his personal information in the case pursuant to the Judicial Privacy Act.
The document requested that the McHenry County Circuit Court clerk and McHenry County sheriff refrain from publicly posting or displaying on the internet any of Hirsch’s personal information and to remove any personal information within 72 hours.
“Failure to comply with this request or a violation of the Judicial Privacy Act may result in a legal action against you for injunctive or declaratory relief in any court of competent jurisdiction and may include the obligation to pay the judicial officer’s costs and reasonable attorney’s fees,” Hirsch said in the request.
The Illinois Supreme Court, following a request from McHenry County Chief Judge Michael Chmiel, ordered that another judge from the Kane County Circuit Court be appointed to the McHenry County case.
Kane County Judge Julio Valdez has since been appointed to the case.
Hirsch’s first court hearing was Monday and the case was continued to August 2 for a plea hearing.