People v. Hargraves

This is an appeal from a judgment of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Illinois, entered after a plea of guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance, in violation of section 402(b) of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 561/2, § 1402(b)). The plea of guilty was accepted by an associate judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit.

The determinative issue in this case is whether an associate judge is authorized to accept a plea of guilty to a felony charge. Supreme Court Rule 295 (50 Ill.2d §295) authorizes an associate judge to "hear and determine any matters except…