"The Robing Room: IL State Judges

Hon. William H. Hooks	See Rating Details
Circuit Judge Circuit Court
Cook County Cook Judicial Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 4.2 - 3 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 11 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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Only items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating.

General Rating Criteria

* Temperament		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Scholarship		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Industriousness		(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Ability to Handle Complex Litigation		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punctuality		(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. William H. Hooks

Comments

Other

Comment #: IL3851
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Hooks has a habit of sentencing people far lower than the minimum for the crime, even in cases of death. He appears far more impressed by the defense attorneys, than the evidence presented. He is soft on crime.

Other

Comment #: IL3581
Rating:1.0

Comments:
If you've 2 DUIs, then get hammered & happen to kill someone, Hooks is the judge you want! The Judge's respect for life is so low that, though it's your 3rd DUI & it includes a murder, he'll let you off with 10 days in jail + a fine. You'd get a longer sentence for snatching a purse.

Other

Comment #: IL3580
Rating:1.0

Comments:
You gave a murderous drunk ten days for taking an innocent life. You shouldn’t have your job.

Other

Comment #: IL2581
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Very disappointed in Judge Hooks decision in the case for Bobby Cann, the victim of a drunk driver.

San Hamel, the driver was given 10 days though his BAC was well above the legal limit and he was speeding. Just a slap on the wrist for taking the life of a wonderful person and shattering countless other lives that were tied to Bobby.

A disgrace for Bobby's family and all of those who look to the court system for justice.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL2327
Rating:1.7

Comments:
He has a good reputation, but I found him to be impossible to deal with. Very rude and arrogant.

Other

Comment #: IL2198
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Very disturbing 10 day sentence to Ryan San Hamel as expressed by many others.

Shame on the commenter giving 10 stars and placing the burden on Bobby for going through a red light. May you never know this sort of tragedy to a loved one in your lifetime.

A .15 BAC 3 hours after (meaning he was above .20 during the accident, that's just science and how metabolism of alcohol works) is ludicrous.

That decision to take the wheel in itself is a danger to the public. Thanks for looking out for the public's safety which is a judge's first and foremost duty. End sarcasm.

Other

Comment #: IL2060
Rating:1.0

Comments:
10 days for a repeat offender who killed someone while slobberingly drunk? No surprise this scumbag is a white dude from the burbs. You're a goddamn disgrace. Leave the bench forever.

Other

Comment #: IL2059
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Sentencing Ryan San Hamel to 10 days for killing a bicyclist while drunk is an outrage, especially when he's had two prior arrests for DUI. It is yet another example of systemic privilege given to wealthy white men, by wealthy white men.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL2058
Rating:1.0

Comments:
It's extremely distressing that a judge with such shocking disregard for public safety was retained in 2016. I will become involved with several local bar associations to ensure that he receives a "do not retain" recommendation, and will do everything in my power to ensure that he is replaced by a judge who doesn't let a three-time drunk driving admitted murderer free after ten days. A shocking embarassment.

Other

Comment #: IL2057
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
The sentence you handed to Ryne Hamel is very upsetting. I ride my bicycle to work and around my neighborhood everyday, and this case makes me sick. What would your feeling be if a repeated drunk driver took the life of your son or daughter? I do not know what I would do if this happened to my wife or children. Is one or two years to think and reflect too much to ask in exchange for a life? Or do you just hate cyclists that much?

Other

Comment #: IL2042
Rating:1.0

Comments:
10 days for San Hamel? You should be deeply ashamed of this. (Though I suspect you already would had you the capacity to do so.) Disgusting!

Other

Comment #: IL2041
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Hooks' sentence for the repeat DUI offender, San Hamel, who -- while driving drunk and speeding -- struck and killed the bicyclist, Bobby Cann, is (in my opinion) unjustifiably and unjustly lenient. The 10-day sentence does not represent real and true justice. I will leave it to the readers' common sense and experience of the world to guess the reasons behind the very light sentence.

Other

Comment #: IL2039
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Hooks at the 402 conference viewed the video of the accident on May 29, 2013. He saw the bicyclist run the red light causing the accident. He opined that the driver of the Mercedes was not intoxicated but was speeding. Those 3 factors weighed heavily on his decision. He is a good judge because he took all of the factors into consideration in making his decision. You can't criticize him for that.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL2037
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Hooks is a very competent administrator of justice. He does his homework and is the best Judge in the Criminal Court Div.

Other

Comment #: IL2034
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Gave a 3-time DUI driver a 10-day jail sentence after killing an innocent biker, driving 50mph in a 30mph zone and blowing 0.15