There had been calls for months to reassign Judge Thomas Nowinski to be reassigned after the stabbing that killed Lacramioara Beldie​, 54.

A judge will be transferred out of the Domestic Violence Division of Cook County Circuit Court at his own request, following harsh criticism after the judge released a man who later allegedly killed his wife.

Judge Thomas Nowinski made the request himself to be reassigned from the Domestic Violence Division to hearing misdemeanor and traffic cases.

Court records show Christopher John Bivins Jr., 31, was sentenced Tuesday to nine months in jail followed by four years of probation on charges of domestic violence by strangulation, grand theft and criminal mischief. Bivins received three days of a credit for time served.

Columbus has already seen its share of bloodshed in 2025, with three homicides, including two now linked to domestic violence.