Circuit Court Judge John Lyke Jr.
- Case on record
- 1
- Ended in a killing
- 1
- Prior arrests across these defendants
- 6
Background
Cook County Circuit Court judge. In December 2025, ordered the release of Alphonso Talley on electronic monitoring pending trial for armed carjacking and robbery. At that hearing Lyke noted: 'There's no doubt these bails would have been set at monetary amounts that he presumably couldn't afford.' Talley was free on EM in April 2026 when he allegedly shot and killed CPD Officer John Bartholomew. The case became central to the political debate over Illinois's SAFE-T Act.
Cases on record
Officer John Bartholomew, 35
Talley and an accomplice allegedly robbed a Family Dollar in Chicago, beating cashier Maria Velazquez. When Bartholomew responded, Talley shot him. Later, while being transported for a CT scan, Talley pulled a hidden firearm from under his blanket and shot two officers, killing Bartholomew. Talley was on electronic monitoring under the SAFE-T Act, released by Judge Lyke in December 2025.