Judge Throws Challenge Flag on Himself

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (CN) - East St. Louis High School's football team is out again, after the judge who ordered it into the state playoffs refused to extend his own restraining order. The school was accused of using an out-of-district player, whose residency was discovered through electronic monitoring as he awaits trial for armed robbery. St. Clair County Associate Judge Richard Aguirre last week granted a temporary restraining order allowing the East St. Louis Flyers to play in the state playoffs.

East St. Louis claimed the Illinois High School Association failed to give it due process when it ruled that Charles Tigue lived outside of the district.

The IHSA ordered the Flyers to forfeit all of their wins from 2009 and its first five wins in 2010, making it ineligible for the playoffs. East St. Louis was 9-0 and was No. 1 seed in the state's Class 7 playoff bracket.

Aguirre reversed his decision on Thursday and refused to grant East St. Louis another temporary restraining order.

"It was a stretch on the court's part to grant the due process," Aguirre said of his own ruling.

Tigue, 17, faces two counts of armed robbery in St. Clair County Court. His eligibility became problematic when the electronic monitoring bracelet he was required to wear was registered to an address outside of the East St. Louis School District. Tigue has pleaded not guilty to the armed robbery charges.

Aguirre's ruling means Belleville West, which lost to East St. Louis 41-10 in the first round, is back in the bracket. Belleville West will take on its crosstown rival Belleville East this weekend.

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