New judge assigned to hear Drew Peterson's murder case

May 21, 2009
BY DAN ROZEK

Staff Reporter

Chicago Sun-Times

Will County prosecutors succeeded today in having a new judge appointed to hear Drew Peterson’s murder case after contending the judge originally assigned was biased against them.

Will County Chief Judge Gerald Kinney named Judge Carla Alessio-Policandriotes to hear the murder charges against Drew Peterson.

Prosecutors earlier had requested that Judge Richard Schoenstedt be removed from the case because of “bias against the state.”

Peterson’s lawyers sought to block that move, but Kinney ruled the request was valid under Illinois law — which allows prosecutors to exclude one judge from a criminal case.

Peterson’s defense team initially balked at Alessio-Policandriotes when she was was assigned, then recanted and agreed to accept her presiding over the high-profile proceedings.

Defense attorney Joel Brodsky later raised the possibility of seeking to have a special prosecutor try Peterson because Will County prosecutors -- including State's Attorney James Glasgow -- might know Peterson too well from his work as a long-time police officer in the county.

"It's not something we’ve totally excluded either,” Brodsky said.

Peterson’s attorneys expect Friday to ask that his $20 million bond be slashed dramatically so he can remain free until his trial.