Search Lake County Bench Warrants
Lake County bench warrants are issued by judges in the 19th Judicial Circuit when a person misses a court date or fails to follow a court order. Lake County sits in the far northeast corner of Illinois with a population of more than 718,000. The Circuit Clerk office in Waukegan maintains all bench warrant records. You can search for active warrants through the clerk, the Lake County Sheriff, or the county's online active warrants list. This guide covers how to find bench warrants in Lake County and what steps to take.
Lake County Quick Facts
Lake County Circuit Clerk Office
The Lake County Circuit Clerk keeps all court records for the 19th Judicial Circuit. Clerk Erin Cartwright Weinstein runs the office. This includes bench warrants, criminal cases, civil filings, traffic cases, and family court records. Bench warrant info is stored as part of each case file. You can look them up by name or case number at the clerk office in Waukegan.
The clerk office is open Monday through Friday. Staff can help you search for bench warrants during business hours. You can ask for copies of court files in person or by mail. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), the first 50 pages of any public records request are free. Extra pages cost $0.15 each. The clerk office also handles filing fees and case inquiries for the public.
The Lake County Circuit Clerk website has info about how to search case records and access court files online.
This screenshot shows the main Circuit Clerk page on the Lake County government site where you can start a case search.
| Clerk | Erin Cartwright Weinstein |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 North County Street Waukegan, Illinois 60085-4340 |
| Phone | 847/377-3380 |
| Fax | 847/360-6409 |
| Website | lakecountyil.gov/Circuit-Clerk |
Lake County Active Warrants List
Lake County stands out from many Illinois counties because it publishes an active warrants list online. This is a PDF that the county updates on a regular basis. It lists people who have active warrants in the 19th Judicial Circuit. You can view it through the county website.
The Lake County Active Warrants PDF page gives you direct access to the current warrant list.
The active warrants page on the Lake County site provides a downloadable PDF you can search through for names and case info.
Keep in mind that the list gets updated on a set schedule. It may not show warrants that were just issued or just recalled. If you need the most current info, call the clerk office or visit in person. The list is still a good starting point for anyone trying to find bench warrants in Lake County.
Note: The active warrants PDF is updated regularly but may not reflect real-time changes to warrant status in Lake County.
How to Search Lake County Bench Warrants
There are several ways to look up bench warrants in Lake County. The online active warrants list is the fastest. But you can also use the clerk office case search, contact the sheriff, or file a FOIA request.
For online searches, the eFile Illinois system also has case info. This is the state electronic filing portal. You need to make an account to use it. Lawyers and self-represented people can access case details here. Some files may be sealed.
For in-person requests, go to the clerk office at 18 North County Street in Waukegan. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can look up bench warrants by name or case number. Under 725 ILCS 5/110-3, when someone fails to appear in court on the date set, the judge may issue a warrant for their arrest.
Lake County Sheriff and Warrants
The Lake County Sheriff's Office serves warrants and keeps records of active warrants across the county. The office works with the Circuit Court to carry out bench warrants issued by judges in the 19th Judicial Circuit.
You can contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office at (847) 377-4000. The office is at 25 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Waukegan. Warrant inquiries should go to the Records Division. The sheriff cannot give out all bench warrant details over the phone.
The Lake County Sheriff site shows how the office handles warrant execution and how you can reach the Records Division for bench warrant questions.
People with active bench warrants in Lake County should talk to a lawyer first. The sheriff office can verify warrants in person with proper ID. Do not try to handle a bench warrant on your own without legal advice.
How Bench Warrants Work in Lake County
A bench warrant in Lake County gets issued when someone fails to follow a court order. The most common reason is missing a court date. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 556, if a person charged with an offense does not appear on the set date, the court can continue the case for at least 30 days, issue a bench warrant, or try the person in their absence. The court must give notice that a bench warrant may issue.
Bench warrants in Lake County do not go away on their own. They stay active until the judge recalls the warrant or law enforcement serves it. A bench warrant can show up during a traffic stop, when you apply for a license, or at any contact with police. The warrant tells officers that the court wants that person brought before a judge.
- Missing a court date is the most common reason for bench warrants
- Failing to pay fines can lead to a bench warrant
- Breaking probation rules may cause the court to issue one
- Warrants stay active until recalled or served
Note: Active warrant lists maintained by the Lake County Sheriff are updated often but may not be current to the minute.
Requesting Lake County Warrant Records
You can request bench warrant records in Lake County under the Illinois FOIA law. Fill out a Request for Public Records form and send it to the FOIA officer at the appropriate department. The office must respond within five working days.
The Lake County government portal connects you to all county departments and has FOIA request forms available.
The county portal site provides links to all Lake County offices, including the Circuit Clerk, Sheriff, and other public services.
Under the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), conviction and criminal history info collected by the Illinois State Police is open to public inspection. This includes bench warrant records tied to criminal cases in Lake County.
Cities in Lake County
Lake County has many cities and villages. All bench warrants in these areas are handled by the Lake County Circuit Court in the 19th Judicial Circuit. Waukegan is the county seat and the largest city.
Other cities in Lake County include Highland Park, Lake Forest, Mundelein, Libertyville, Gurnee, and North Chicago. All of them file cases through the Lake County Circuit Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Lake County. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address where the court date was set. Bench warrants are filed in the county where the case was opened.