Category Archives: Judicial Structures, Ethics, and Efficiency

Among the Chicago Council of Lawyers’ most vital projects are our state judicial evaluations. This crucial public service to help the citizens of Illinois vote for qualified judges. The quality of our judiciary is a critical part of our democracy, and informed voting for judges is necessary if we ar...

As voters, it is our responsibility to elect for fair, compassionate judges we can trust to make impartial decisions based on consideration of the facts and the law. In order to arm voters with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about judges, the Chicago Council of Lawyers completes...

The Chicago Council of Lawyers strongly supports passage of SB 0653, the Judicial Quality Act (the “Act”).  The Act requires that the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts “develop and implement an ongoing education and training program for judges and relevant court personnel regarding do...

Today, the Chicago Council of Lawyers releases our Judicial Evaluation Report of candidates seeking retention in the November 3, 2020 election. A ballot summary of our findings can be found here.  Voting for judges is a key part of our democracy. Some Cook County judges are elected by the public...

This fall, the issue of judicial recusal has returned to the forefront in Illinois, with the indictments against Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke’s husband, Chicago Alderman Ed Burke. In particular, WBEZ reported at least 10 instances in which Justice Burke decided cases involving parties who,...