In Illinois, a judge has made the decision to step back from his current role after two heartbreaking cases he oversaw ended in tragedy. These cases, which resulted in the deaths of a woman and a young boy, have drawn significant attention and criticism.
Judge Thomas E. Nowinski, elected in 2022, served in Cook County’s Domestic Violence Division. However, this week, he asked to be reassigned, a change announced on Thursday. Starting January 21, Judge Nowinski will no longer handle domestic violence cases. Instead, he’ll be transferred to the Third Municipal District to oversee misdemeanor and traffic cases.
The decision follows the devastating murder of Lacramioara Beldie, 54, and her husband’s subsequent suicide. Back in October 2024, Constantin Beldie, 57, was charged with choking his wife and trying to kidnap her. Despite these charges, he was released on GPS monitoring. Tragically, in November, just one day after appearing in court, Constantin stabbed Lacramioara to death. He then drove to a nearby park and took his own life.
Cook County courts explained that the judge’s decision to release Constantin was based on an incomplete presentation of evidence. According to court documents, prosecutors didn’t object when the defense claimed Constantin had no prior record of domestic violence or violations of no-contact orders. Additionally, a GPS technician failed to catch a violation the day after Constantin entered a restricted zone. The technician was suspended and later resigned.
In another case, Judge Nowinski denied a protective order that could have potentially saved 11-year-old Jayden Perkins. In March 2024, Jayden was tragically killed by his mother’s ex-boyfriend, Crosetti Brand, 37, in Chicago. Brand attacked the boy and his pregnant mother, who survived. The boy, who died defending his mom, was killed just one day after Brand was released from prison. When the mother initially sought a protective order, the judge declined it because Brand was behind bars at the time.
These incidents have sparked calls for change. Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, in a statement, emphasized the need for better protection for domestic violence survivors and stronger collaboration among those in the justice system.
However, not everyone believes Judge Nowinski’s reassignment is sufficient. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has publicly called for his resignation, expressing frustration over the outcomes of these cases. She argued that the justice system seemed to favor the offenders over the victims, leading to preventable tragedies.
These heartbreaking stories have reignited conversations about domestic violence, the responsibilities of the justice system, and the urgent need to protect vulnerable individuals.
