People Ex Rel. Filkin v. Flessner

On June 10, 1969, the defendant, Donald L. Filkin, after a bench trial before a magistrate in the circuit court of Champaign County was found guilty of speeding in violation of section 49 of the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1967, ch. 95^, par. 146.) The trial was conducted over the defendant’s objection that he had a right to a trial by jury. Prior to trial he had unsuccessfully sought a writ of mandamus or, alternatively, a writ of prohibition to restrain the conducting of the proposed bench trial. The imposition of sentence was stayed by the magistrate…