Lake County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Named after Lake Michigan, Lake County was formed in 1839 and is ranked as the second wealthiest county in Illinois by per capita income. Its population of over 713,100 makes it the third-most populated county in the state, and its largest city and county seat is Waukegan. The county has a total area of 1,368 square miles. Like all other counties in Illinois, the Lake County judicial system comprises Circuit Court and Administrative Adjudication Systems. These courts meet all the judicial needs of the county's residents.

The 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois has general jurisdiction over most criminal and civil cases and is located in Waukegan, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Round Lake, and Park City. The Lake County Circuit Court is the only court in Lake County. It is organized into Divisions based on case types. The Criminal and Traffic Division hears all criminal and traffic cases, including misdemeanors, felonies, traffic violations, and parking infractions. The General/Civil Division hears all civil cases, including equity and small claims. The Domestic Relations Division handles domestic relations matters, while the Probate Division handles all probate matters. The Juvenile Branch in Vernon Hills hears all juvenile matters. The Circuit Court also hears appeals of cases from Administrative Adjudication bodies. Administrative Adjudication Systems in Lake County are also called Adjudication Courts or Adjudication Hearing Systems. They primarily deal with municipal ordinance violations and do not offer jury trials. There are Administrative Adjudication Bodies in Grayslake, Gurnee, Fox Lake, Highland Park, Hawthorn Woods, Lake Forest, Zion, and Libertyville.

There are about 5,000 crimes in Lake County annually, which is a crime rate of 700 crimes per 100,000 population. According to the 2022 Illinois Court Statistical Summary, over 67,000 cases were filed in the 19th Circuit Court, and over 82,000 cases were concluded. Of the 67,000 cases filed, 12,608 were civil cases, 2,764 were family cases, 7,459 were criminal cases, and 40, 945 were traffic and conservation offenses. The records of the Circuit Court are in the custody of the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Interested residents can access these records online via the county's case search portal. They can also visit the clerk's office to view or request public court records. Certain court records declared confidential by law or court orders are not open to the public. These records typically include:

• Medical and mental health records
• Adoption records
• Most juvenile records
• Identifying information about jurors
• Grand jury proceedings and records
• Personally identifiable information such as social security number and driver's license number
• Certain records of victims of sexual violence

In summary, the Circuit Court and various Administrative Adjudication Bodies in Lake County ensure fair and efficient resolution of cases. In addition, the ability of the public to inspect court records ensures transparency and builds the public's trust in the judicial system. The Lake County judicial system remains a beacon of light in Illinois.