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Transit Table partners pass HB277
HB277—a bill that amends Illinois law to no longer suspend driver's licenses for failure to appear in court for traffic tickets—has passed both houses and now heads to the governor for signing! Illinois will join [...]
Threats of Punishment Don’t Create Safety
In an editorial Friday, the Sun-Times reports that State Senate Republicans want to toughen the law and upgrade order of protection violations from a misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony. The editorial suggests this will [...]
NEW REPORT – When You’re a Hammer, Everything’s a Nail: Examining the “Progressive Prosecutor” Movement and Possibilities for Future Reform
Byline: Naomi Johnson (she/they) is the Co-Executive Director of Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts. They lead all research and policy projects for the organization – centering community voices alongside evidence-driven approaches. Naomi graduated from [...]
NEW – Restorative Justice, Community, and the Courts: An Analysis of the Impact, Benefits, and Elements “Constantly in Conflict” in Chicago’s Restorative Justice Community Courts
Our new report examines the Circuit Court of Cook County’s three Restorative Justice Community Courts (RJCCs) located in the Avondale (North Side), Englewood (South Side), and North Lawndale (West Side) neighborhoods of Chicago. The North [...]
Progress Report: First 100 Days of the New Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
On December 1, 2020, Iris Martinez took office of Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court. The Clerk plays an essential function as the “official record keeper” for the court, responsible for collecting and disbursing [...]
Legislation Alert!
The Chicago Council of Lawyers is urging its members to submit Witness slips in opposition to HB 0861, which removes the court's discretion to award maintenance without consideration of "marital misconduct". HB 861 specifically prohibits [...]
Join Us in October
Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers, the Collaboration for Justice, have been doing an annual luncheon for decades—this year is different. Instead of a luncheon, we will host three virtual panels on October 9, 16, and 23. [...]
Three Reforms to Fines, Fees, and Debt Collection Practices
Along with our partner, Chicago Appleseed, the Council of Lawyers is a member of the Transit Table Coalition, working to eliminate transportation barriers that keep people out of work and in poverty. On Friday, the Transit [...]
Give $50 for 50
Our Presidents' Circle of donors celebrates the collaboration for justice between the Chicago Council of Lawyers and the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice. With a tax deductible donation to our Presidents' Circle $50 for 50 [...]
On the Table 2019 Memo to the Mayor: Our Courts are Our Community
Thanks to our guests for an exciting On the Table conversation on May 15th, discussing our courts as part of our community. This year, On the Table hosts are producing a Memo to the Mayor [...]
