Moss and Ink local

Complaint Pending with Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board

By Willow Moss, March 29, 2026 – La Salle County, IL

La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro has filed a formal complaint with the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board alleging a long-standing pattern of bullying, verbal harassment, and hostile behavior by Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. of the 13th Judicial Circuit toward prosecutors and court staff.

The News was first made public by Shaw Media. We have since sent statement requests to the involved or named individuals.

The complaint, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by La Salle County Board member Alexandria “Ali” Braboy, accuses Judge Ryan of engaging in “abusive, retaliatory, hostile, and belittling behavior” directed at members of the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office and other courthouse employees.

In an eight-page letter attached to the complaint, Navarro wrote: “I have been aware and personally seen your behavior on display for decades. My staff has been called names, belittled, bullied, sought medical treatment, left your courtroom crying, and have asked to be reassigned out of your courtroom.”

Navarro stated he consulted the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, which advised him that he was not only permitted but required to report the behavior.

Specific incidents cited in the supporting documents include:

• A February 2, 2026, email in which Judge Ryan allegedly referred to two assistant state’s attorneys as “morons” while complaining about the jail roster.
• Belittling and ridiculing comments made by the judge in open court, including in front of a jury. One female prosecutor wrote that the remarks left her “incredibly hard to power through the trial” due to fear of further mocking and ridicule.

Navarro suggested reassigning Judge Ryan out of the felony division at the La Salle County Criminal Justice Center as an appropriate remedy. As of the filing, the judge remains assigned to that division.

Judge Ryan declined to comment when provided with the materials, according to Shaw Media. The Judicial Inquiry Board, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct, has a policy of not commenting on pending cases and only releases information once a finding is made.

County Board member Braboy, who obtained the partially redacted documents, issued a statement calling for transparency:

“Following information I received from a Freedom of Information Act I filed… it is my opinion this information should be available to the public. I am requesting the County Board Chairman provide clarity on how employees are being supported now and in the future. I request the State of Illinois make the Judicial Inquiry Board’s review process more transparent.”

Navarro told reporters he would defer further public comment until the Judicial Inquiry Board completes its review.

The 13th Judicial Circuit covers La Salle, Bureau, and Grundy counties. This public dispute between the county prosecutor’s office and the chief judge is considered highly unusual, with timing being suspicious. Recently, Moss and Ink have been informed by multiple, not-connected individuals about misconduct from all sides of the local judicial personnel.

The Judicial Inquiry Board has not yet issued any findings in the matter.

We want to hear YOUR thoughts:

-Willow Moss