By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News

(WAUKEGAN, IL) —  Lake County’s 19th Judicial Circuit Court’s Jury Commission says it has received notification of several occurrences where individuals had been contacted by telephone by a man identifying himself as a Lake County deputy sheriff. Citizens were told that they had failed to appear for jury duty and needed to proceed to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan immediately. Once at the courthouse, they were instructed to call the deputy sheriff stating that they had left their residence. Local authorities have verified that the name provided by the caller is not a Lake County deputy sheriff.

In response to these events, Chief Judge Jay W. Ukena has issued the following statement.

“The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit is appreciative of the service performed by the citizens of Lake County and is committed to protecting their civic right to serve as a juror. The Circuit is issuing a press advisory regarding this matter to all our local justice and media partners today to warn and protect the Citizens of Lake County.”

Jury Commissioner Robert A. Zastany, Jr. issued a statement.

“The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court’s Jury Commission would like to remind citizens that our office does not contact any potential juror by telephone. All communication by our office is sent via US mail on official circuit letterhead. If a citizen needs to verify their jury summons, please contact the Lake County Jury Commission Office at 847-377- 4600 or by email at [email protected].”

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