Judge found innocent by reason of insanity

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CHICAGO, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A Chicago judge who voters keep returning to the bench has been found innocent by reason of insanity of shoving a deputy outside the Daley Center last year.

Psychiatrist Mathew Markos testified at her bench trial that Cook County Judge Cynthia Brim, 54, was diagnosed years ago with a bipolar type of schizoaffective disorder that produces delusions and hallucinations, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

Markos said the symptoms can be held in check by medication.

In the 18 years since Brim was first elected to the bench she has been hospitalized five times after suffering mental breakdowns, testimony revealed.

Bar associations have recommended since 2000 that Brim be tossed off the bench but voters have kept electing her.

DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan, who was brought in to hear the case, said his verdict is separate from the larger question of Brim's fitness to be a judge.