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Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau for Releasing Confidential Village Information
On December 12, 2025, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Caroline Kate Moreland denied former Mayor Keith Pekau’s motion to dismiss, allowing the Village’s lawsuit to proceed.
The court determined that the Village’s allegations regarding the improper retention and use of non-public Village records were and are legally sufficient to remain before the court and addressed related procedural pleading issues.
The lawsuit arises from actions taken earlier this year that resulted in the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).
On August 14, 2025, Judge Moreland issued a TRO against Mr. Pekau, ordering him to immediately remove his publication of the Village’s confidential information he received access to while in office, and to cease publishing or disseminating any additional non-public confidential information related to the Village of Orland Park.
The court’s initial action followed an emergency lawsuit filed by the Village after Mr. Pekau, who lost re-election in April 2025, published blog and social media posts disclosing sensitive internal documents, details related to ongoing litigation involving the Village, and non-public information related to Village employees.
It is the Village’s position that Mr. Pekau’s conduct violated privacy laws and risked undermining the Village’s position in active litigation, potentially exposing taxpayers to increased liability and financial harm. Prior to filing suit, the Village requested that Mr. Pekau voluntarily remove the confidential information, but he declined to do so.
During ongoing court proceedings, attorneys for the Village argued that Mr. Pekau’s publication of the Village’s confidential information violated his oath of office, provisions of the Village Code prohibiting current and former officials from disclosing confidential Village information, and requirements of the Illinois Municipal Code mandating that outgoing officials turn over all Village records to their successors.
The attorneys reiterated that while the Village is committed to transparency, Illinois law permits municipalities to keep certain limited categories of information confidential for legally defined purposes.
As the Village’s request for a permanent injunction against Mr. Pekau continues to be litigated in circuit court, the TRO remains in effect. The order prohibits Mr. Pekau from posting, sharing, or discussing any confidential Village communications, including legal memoranda, settlement discussions, personnel matters, and internal emails protected by attorney-client privilege. The Village continues in its efforts to recover confidential Village documents that remain in Mr. Pekau’s possession.
The Village of Orland Park remains committed to open, transparent and responsible governance and will continue to take appropriate legal action when necessary to protect the interests of the Village and its residents.
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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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