McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp appears poised to become the next circuit judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit after defeating Associate Judge Amy McFarland in Tuesday's Republican primary.
In Rica Rountree's case, mandated reporters alerted the state’s child welfare agency of potential serious abuse. They sounded the alarm bell repeatedly, only to have those alarms ignored or not thoroughly investigated by the agency tasked with doing so. Instead, the investigator who mishandled Rica’s case was promoted.
Associate Judge Amy McFarland is calling for new and creative ways to bring local agencies to the table to help minors who have not received adequate protection through the beleaguered Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.