Madison County Public Defender
Recent News About Madison County Public Defender
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Napp appoints Calvin Fuller to represent Banowetz in bid to withdraw guilty plea
Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp appointed special defender Calvin B. Fuller of Granite City to represent Timothy Banowetz in his bid to withdraw his guilty plea to the murder of Edwardsville asbestos attorney Randy Gori in 2020. -
Man convicted of killing attorney Randy Gori asks for special defender in bid to withdraw guilty plea
After moving to withdraw his guilty plea to the murder of asbestos attorney Randy Gori due to alleged “inadequate representation” by Madison County Public Defender Mary Copeland, Timothy Banowetz asked Circuit Judge Kyle Napp to again appoint a special defender. -
Man convicted of killing asbestos attorney Randy Gori seeks to withdraw guilty plea
Timothy Banowetz, who was convicted of murdering asbestos attorney Randy Gori, has filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and vacate his 70-year prison sentence. -
Man accused of murdering Liese Dodd declared unfit to stand trial; Motion hearing for gag order canceled
Madison County Associate Judge Neil Schroeder found that murder suspect Deundrea S. Holloway is unfit to stand trial after he was accused of beheading Liese Dodd, killing her and her unborn baby. -
Napp sentences Banowetz to 60 years for murder of Randy Gori, 10 years for armed robbery
Timothy Banowetz was sentenced Friday to 60 years for the first degree murder of asbestos attorney Randy Gori and 10 years for armed robbery by Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp. -
MC Public Defender reports challenges filling open positions
During this month’s Judiciary Committee Meeting, Madison County Public Defender Mary Copeland reported that her office is struggling to fill open positions. -
Madison County public defender: Man accused of murdering Gori rejects plea deal
EDWARDSVILLE – Timothy Banowetz turned down an offer to plead guilty of murdering lawyer Randy Gori, his lawyer Mary Copeland told Madison County circuit judge Kyle Napp on Sept. 22. -
Napp grants in part motions to introduce Banowetz's internet search history in Gori murder trial
Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp ruled on several motions to introduce internet search history evidence at suspect Timothy Banowetz’s trial for allegedly killing asbestos attorney Randy Gori. -
Mudge requests special defender to handle post conviction petitions
Madison County Chief Judge Bill Mudge asked the Judiciary Committee to approve hiring a full-time special defender to handle post conviction petitions as special defenders are stretched thin with murder trials. -
Haine: Banowetz researched Gori, serial killers before the asbestos attorney's murder
Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine plans to introduce murder suspect Timothy Banowetz’s internet search history at his trial next month for allegedly killing asbestos attorney Randy Gori. -
Rekowski takes seat at state Appellate Defender office as Maag files class action over backlog
SPRINGFIELD – John Rekowski, who retired as Madison County public defender, takes a seat as commissioner in the Office of the State Appellate Defender. -
Mary Copeland is first woman to be appointed Madison County Chief Public Defender
Attorney Mary N. Copeland makes history as the first woman to be appointed as Madison County Chief Public Defender, filling the vacancy after John Rekowski retires at the end of the month. -
Trial date continued to January in Gori murder case
Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp continued the trial date to Jan. 11 in the murder case of asbestos attorney Randy Gori. -
Rekowski announces last day in office; Applications for public defender due Nov. 2
Madison County Chief Public Defender John Rekowski announced at Friday’s Judiciary Committee meeting that he plans to retire from his position next month. -
MC Judiciary Committee takes steps toward investigating county officials' use of email system for political campaigning
In pursuit of an investigation into the use of the county’s email system for political campaigning, the Madison County Judiciary Committee has asked State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons to write a letter to the Attorney General’s Office to determine if they had already looked into the content during an unrelated investigation involving former county administrators. -
Madison County public defender cites challenges amid coronavirus crisis, but says there is unity in judicial system
Madison County's Public Defender John Rekowski admits the COVID-19 emergency has thrown up many difficulties and challenges, but also revealed how some time adversaries can become allies in a united front to confront the spread of the virus. -
Napp grants motion to consume blood samples from suspect, Rolls Royce in Gori murder
Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp granted a motion to consume blood samples over the objection of the Madison County Public Defender’s Office in the murder case of asbestos attorney Randy Gori. -
Defense attorney Rekowski mulling whether to have Gibbons' office recused in Gori murder case
Roughly two weeks after Madison County Public Defender John Rekowski’s office was appointed to represent Timothy Michael Banowetz in the murder of asbestos attorney Randy Gori, Rekowski said his office has not yet received any evidence but will triple check any court filings. -
Banowetz pleads not guilty to felony charges in Gori murder
The man accused of killing asbestos attorney Randy Gori was indicted Thursday, pleading not guilty to felony charges. -
Public defender appointed to represent Banowetz in Gori murder
Madison County Public Defender John Rekowski said his office was appointed to represent Timothy Michael Banowetz, who is accused of killing asbestos attorney Randy Gori.