A motion for a change of venue filed by the defense in the Xandria Harris murder trial was denied in Kankakee County Circuit Court today. Judge Kathy Bradshaw Elliott made the ruling late this afternoon after arguments were heard between Harris’s defense attorney Cierra Norris and Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe.
Norris argued that the community is riddled with grief from the 2021 shooting death of Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and severe wounding of Officer Tyler Bailey that potential jurors do no have the ability to be unbiased in the upcoming trial. Norris backed up her claims with screenshots of Facebook comments on local media outlets allegedly made by area residents showing bias towards Norris. State’s Attorney Rowe argued much of the same except his Facebook comments showed those taking Harris’ side or remaining neutral in the case.
Judge Elliot reminded Norris that if the motion is granted, she has the right as a judge to choose whatever county she wants to have the case tried. Norris suggested Judge Elliot would choose a location using race as the deciding factor. State’s Attorney Jim Rowe spoke up and said Norris should be held in contempt for insinuating that Judge Elliot is racist. Rowe also argued the rumor that Judge Elliot was present the night of the shooting is completely false and that it was Judge Claudio was there that night. Rowe said Claudio was there to sign search warrants.
At one point during Friday’s hearing, Norris asked Rowe to take himself off the case, since he’d already said he was on the scene the night of the shooting, that motion was denied. Judge Elliot said it’s common for states attorneys to be present at crime scenes. Assistant States Attorney Carol Costello, however was removed from the case because she donated to the Marlene Rittmanic Memorial Organization.
Jury selection in the Harris trial is set to begin eleven Monday morning in Kankakee County Court. Norris told Judge Elliott that there is a chance she won’t be there because she has a client who has a speedy jury trial next week in Maywood. Judge Elliott said she would hold her in contempt if she didn’t show up Monday.
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