Circuit Judge John F. Lyke Jr. placed two Cook County sheriff’s deputies in custody on September 9, 2026 after they declined to remove handcuffs from a murder defendant during a hearing at the Cook County Courthouse in Chicago. The judge had invited the defendant’s relatives to embrace him, and the deputies’ refusal prompted the detention.
The two deputies, employed by the Cook County Sheriff's Office, asserted that procedural requirements required them to wait before unshackling the defendant. Their decision to maintain the restraints conflicted with the judge’s invitation for a family hug, leading the judge to order their arrest.
The incident unfolded in a courtroom setting where the murder defendant was present with family members. After Judge Lyke’s invitation, the deputies’ refusal was the sole reason cited for their removal from the courtroom and subsequent custody. No additional charges or disciplinary actions were detailed beyond the immediate detention.
The deputies are members of the local deputies’ union, though the union’s response was not disclosed in the court record. The Cook County Sheriff's Office has not released further comment regarding the deputies’ actions or the judge’s decision. The case continues to proceed under the oversight of the Cook County judicial system.