Where county cases are heard:

• Kendall County Courthouse and Circuit Clerk
  Address: 807 W. John Street, Yorkville, IL 60560. Phone 630-553-4183. Hears: all criminal, traffic, juvenile (single courthouse).

Illinois abolished separate city and justice-of-the-peace courts in 1964, so city courts are gone. Under 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1, towns may hear ordinance tickets themselves.

Here, juvenile court hears youth cases under 705 ILCS 405. Detained local youth go to a juvenile detention center chosen by the court. For anyone under 18, hearings are private.

Warrants from the courthouse go to the Kendall County Sheriff's Office, which serves them countywide; Oswego, Plano and local police handle many inside town limits. Deputies at 630-553-7500 confirm warrants over the phone. Kendall's criminal and traffic files are searchable on re:SearchIL (Illinois' statewide court portal). Your attorney can search them for you; a self-represented party can after an accepted e-filing. A Kendall defense attorney can set a surrender at the jail on John Street, or the clerk can find you a new date if a hearing was missed. The clerk is in the county courthouse at 807 W. John Street, Yorkville, IL 60560, phone 630-553-4183.

Local federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604, 312-435-5670. For someone held by the U.S. Marshals, a magistrate sets detention (Chicago, 18 U.S.C. 3142). The U.S. Marshals Service often uses county jails nearby; check VINELink. For federal prisoners, see the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

The Second District Appellate Court, 55 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120, hears local appeals. Appellate clerk: 847-695-3750.

1. Within 30 days, file a post-trial motion in Yorkville (new trial, plea withdrawal, or sentence review).
2. Notice of appeal: within 30 days, to the county clerk (Rule 606).
3. Ask for the Office of the State Appellate Defender if the person cannot pay.
4. Next, the trial record goes to Elgin and the lawyers write briefs.
5. The Illinois Supreme Court may take the case on petition.

Detention orders have a faster appeal under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(h). After appeals, a post-conviction petition (725 ILCS 5/122-1) can raise constitutional claims.

1. Visit re:SearchIL (free sign-up).
2. Choose Kendall County, then enter the name.
3. Some counties also post on Judici.
4. Or ask the clerk: 630-553-4183.

1. Charge, lawyer and release are set within 48 hours. Details: Local bail and release.
2. Preliminary hearing or grand jury, within 30 days if held (725 ILCS 5/109-3.1).
3. Arraignment in the courtroom.
4. Pretrial motions and plea talks.
5. Trial within 120 days if held in jail (725 ILCS 5/103-5), unless delayed by the defense.
6. A judge sets the sentence.

The circuit court hears both (630-553-4183). Felonies (a year or more) go to Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit judges (630-553-4183). Associate judges take misdemeanors and traffic cases (625 ILCS 5). Federal charges leave Kendall County for the Northern District of Illinois.

1. ICE can file an I-247A with the Kendall County Jail.
2. The Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15) means the county ignores the hold request.
3. The Illinois Courthouse Civil Rights Act (705 ILCS 90) bars civil arrests of people attending court.
4. Detainees often leave Illinois; check the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
5. Immigration consequences matter; tell the public defender or your lawyer before any plea.

A prisoner sent from the county jail goes to state intake first. Use the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate search and our Illinois state prisons guide.

• Locate them with our inmate guide.
• Plan a visit with our visitation page.
• Money for local accounts: money guide.
• Letters and calls to the jail at 1102 Cornell Lane, Yorkville, IL 60560: our mail and phone guides.