Appellate Court overturns 10 contempt rulings against DCFS Director Marc Smith
CHICAGO (CBS) -- There was a victory Wednesday for the head of the state's Department of Children and Family Services.
More than 10 times this year, a judge held DCFS Director Marc Smith in contempt of court for failing children. The rulings involved kids being left in hospitals longer than necessary.
In one case, a child was left in an "inappropriate placement" for a year.
An Illinois Appellate Court panel on Wednesday ruled that the judge abused his discretion with the contempt of court findings against Smith – and overturned 10 of them.
The higher court did say however, that the lower court judge – former Cook County Public Guardian Patrick Murphy - was trying to address a widespread problem and that Smith has fallen "woefully short."
The appellate court called DCFS failures with the kids referenced in the decisions "absolutely unacceptable."