An Illinois judge, Robert Adrian, has been removed from the bench by the Illinois Courts Commission following a three-day hearing in Chicago in November. The Commission found that Adrian engaged in multiple instances of misconduct and abused his power by circumventing the law. This decision stems from the controversy surrounding Adrian's reversal of the rape conviction of an 18-year-old man, Drew Clinton, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at a graduation party in May 2021.

Despite acknowledging that he was supposed to impose a mandatory four-year sentence on Clinton, Adrian decided not to send him to prison, stating that the 148 days Clinton spent in jail was punishment enough. This move elicited outrage, with the state Judicial Inquiry Board filing a complaint against Adrian. The victim, identified as Cameron Vaughan, expressed shock at the verdict reversal but was determined to see justice served. Vaughan attended the commission proceedings with family, friends, and supporters.

Adrian's decision was met with criticism in Quincy, Illinois, and beyond, with the prosecutor in the case expressing sympathy for the victim. Following the Commission's ruling to remove Adrian from the bench, Vaughan expressed relief, stating that she was "very happy that the commission could see all the wrong and all the lies that he told the entire time." However, Adrian maintained that the decision was a "miscarriage of justice," claiming that he had always told the truth.

Despite claims that prosecutors failed to meet the burden of proof in Clinton's case, the Commission found Adrian's justification for the reversal to be a subterfuge. While Clinton cannot be retried for the same crime due to the Fifth Amendment, a motion to expunge his record was denied in February 2023. Adrian's removal from the bench marks a pivotal moment in this controversial case, highlighting the importance of upholding justice and accountability within the legal system.