SPRINGFIELD - Anger over the deaths of two young brothers from LeRoy spilled over on the floor of the Illinois House on Friday.

On the day family and friends of Jack and Duncan Leichtenberg were set to say their final goodbyes during funeral services in LeRoy, state Rep. Robert Biggins, R-Elmhurst, said the judge involved in the boys' custody case is a "disgrace."

"Let's investigate the judge," Biggins said.

Biggins' comments were the latest criticism of McLean County Circuit Judge James Souk, who approved an unsupervised visit by the deceased boys' father, Michael Connolly.

Robert Biggins

Souk's handling of the case has spawned an online petition calling for his ouster.

"The judge made the decision to let those children be put to their death," Biggins said.

Biggins' comments surprised state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who had called on his colleagues to observe a moment of silence for the boys.

"I think at this moment, as I indicated, I'm just trying to peacefully remember two little boys and their family," Brady said.

Other lawmakers said Biggins was being "reckless."

"I think it is very dangerous and unwarranted to try and lay that tragedy at the feet of a judge who was simply following the law," said state Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago.

The bodies of Duncan, 9, and Jack, 7, were found in the back seat of their father's car March 29 in a remote area of Putnam County. The body of Michael Connolly, 40, was found about 60 yards away with a rope around his neck.

Connolly did not return the boys after a weekend visit scheduled to end at 6 p.m. March 8.

Police are investigating the case as a double homicide-suicide.

As details of the divorce, custody and visitation issues between Connolly and Amy Leichtenberg of LeRoy have unfolded, questions have arisen about how Connolly, a man with a history of mental illness, was given unsupervised visits with his sons.

James Souk

Leichtenberg has complained that the courts failed her by ignoring her concerns. The online petition asks that Souk "be held accountable for his contribution to the murders" of the boys.

Souk did not immediately return messages left at his office in Bloomington on Friday.

Said Biggins, "It's an unpleasant topic. I'm not going to shut up about it."

"People are dead. Maybe needlessly. Maybe the judge made a wrong decision," he added.