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.

Cook County Judge Thomas Nowinski, who ordered the release of a man who allegedly went on to kill his wife in November, is being moved out of domestic violence court. There were multiple calls for Nowinski to step down from the bench.

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

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

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans says recent tragedies have prompted changes in domestic violence court. The big picture: Evans is promising more collaboration with prosecutors and interviews with victims after the court came under scrutiny because of two high-profile cases last year.

A Cook County judge who allowed a man later accused of killing his wife to be released on electronic monitoring will no longer hear domestic violence cases, Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced Thursday.