Things were looking up for Jackie Sample in her ongoing divorce from (still) husband Dr. Madison Sample.
In December 2024, both of Dr. Sample’s attorneys along with the presiding judge, James Orel, withdrew from the case. Judge Orel actually retired as of December 31, 2024.
For almost two years, Dr. Sample has been allowed to hide millions in assets both accumulated in their marriage.
Judge Orel was replaced with Judge Neal Cerne.
Judge Cerne had already presided over a handful of hearings in this case. I didn’t witness those, however Jackie described them to me.
Dr. Sample no longer had lawyers, nor did he appear. He didn’t need lawyers, Jackie told me, because Judge Cerne acted as his lawyer during all the previous hearings.
Every time Jackie spoke, Judge Cerne would counter by citing case law, laws, or procedure for why she couldn’t do what she was asking to do.
On January 6, 2025, I witnessed a hearing with Judge Cerne presiding.
In this hearing, Judge Cerne was combative, confrontational, and hostile toward Jackie. He was polite and professional toward everyone else, including litigants in other matters.
Jackie has argued that she is the victim of sexism and racism, and Judge Cerne did nothing but validate her belief on January 6, 2025.
Jackie dressed as a handmaid’s tale character. I asked her why afterwards.
“They {the court} treat me like I have no rights.” Jackie told me.
It was the same pattern in court when I witnessed it.
Once again, only Jackie showed up to court.
Normally, this would mean all her requests would be approved, since there was no one there to challenge them.
Instead, Judge Cerne was there to challenge them.
In some cases, Judge Cerne argued that Jackie’s motions lacked facts.
Jackie was representing herself. I took a look at her motions after the hearing, and some of them did lack facts.
Some motions did have facts.
The motion above stated that Dr. Sample failed to pay maintenance for two months. As a result, the utilities in her home may be shut off.
Jackie has argued throughout that the court has not merely allowed Dr. Sample to abscond with millions, which should be fairly split, but the situation has left her in dire financial straits, despite living in a multi-million-dollar home in Burr Ridge, Illinois.
In December 2024, Jackie went in front of Judge Cerne, asking to hold Dr. Sample in contempt.
Judge Cerne, according to his order, denied Jackie’s motion, stating that it was not an emergency.
Judge Cerne did not hear the motion on January 6.
Dr. Sample has disappeared. Jackie is not receiving court ordered funds, and Judge Cerne refuses to hear the motion to correct this, despite Jackie being unopposed in all recent hearings.
The hearing turned bizarre when Judge Cerne suggested that DuPage County, Illinois, where this case is heard, may not even be the right venue.
Burr Ridge, where the home is located, is in multiple counties. Judge Cerne suggested the home may not be in DuPage County.
The court spent five minutes entertaining his delusions. The home is in DuPage County. The case has been ongoing for two years. Someone might have noticed it before Judge Cerne, if the home was not.
In the most shocking sequence, Jackie asked Judge Cerne to issue a bench warrant because Dr. Sample has failed to appear, and because he violated a previous order issued by Judge Orel in November 2024.
Judge Cerne asked Jackie if Dr. Sample had been served with the order. He had not.
He probably did not need to be served with the order; however, Dr. Sample was represented by counsel in November 2024.
His counsel was Matt “the Munchkin” Elster, and the Munchkin, though no longer on the case, was appearing nonetheless.
The Munchkin appeared to ask for unpaid fees, so it’s probably not untoward.
The Munchkin had received said order, and that should be enough.
It’s especially so, since Dr. Sample wasn’t there to argue otherwise.
Normally, a judge doesn’t make arguments on behalf of a party which failed to appear in court, but this was no ordinary court hearing.
I was witnessing a hostile and corrupt judge, who was determined to make sure that a pro se litigant could not move her case forward.
He denied Jackie’s request, claiming that Dr. Sample had not been hand served a previous order.
Since he’s disappeared, it’s unlikely he will ever face punishment for violating this order.
I asked the Munchkin in the hallway afterward if he accepted service on his former client’s behalf.
“Are you an attorney,” he bellowed at me.
Check out my original interview with Jackie below.
She wore that to court? Judge now thinks she's nuts and also combative. Jackie, do you want to lose? I'm so confused.