Latest News – Page 11 – Chicago Council of Lawyers

After years of advocacy, the recording systems in Chicago’s eviction courtrooms are officially operational as of October 25, 2019

Chicago Reader columnist Maya Dukmasova published an article on Wednesday, October 30, exposing the fact that, “for the first time in 16 years, Chicago eviction court is on tape.” Chicago Appleseed & Chicago Council of Lawyers established a coalition that has continuously advocated the c...

Collaboration for Justice Fellowship Announcement

The Chicago Council of Lawyers was created in 1969 - fifty years ago - to give a voice to lawyers demanding fairness and effectiveness in the justice system. When the Council was founded, there was a lack of basic trust in our government and corporate sectors across the country; fundamentally unfair...

Merit-Based Judicial Retention in Illinois: A Viable Way to Improve the Quality of the State’s Judiciary

In 2014, Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) proposed to amend the Illinois constitution as a means to improve the way Illinois retains its judges. Her bill (HJRCA0010) suggested a judicial performance commission for the evaluation of judicial retention candidates. As explained in a ...

ABA Resolution 100A: A Victory in the Fight for Procedural Justice, Fairness, and the Independence of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs)

A Victory in the Fight for Procedural Justice, Fairness, and the Independence of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs): ABA Resolution 100A, August 12, 2019 In February of 2019, we released a report entitled The Need for a Central Panel Approach to Administrative Adjudication: Pros, Cons, and Se...

Civil Liberties Committee opposes Proposed Rule to “Clarify” the scope of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

On August 12, the Civil Liberties Committee submitted a formal letter to the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opposing a change to Section 1557 NPRM, RIN 0945-AA11 of the Affordable Care Act. They write: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)...

CPD’s “Gun Offender Dashboard” contains Disturbing Inaccuracies that are Misleading the Public about the Causes of Violent Crime

Chicago Police Department’s “Gun Offender Dashboard” contains Disturbing Inaccuracies that are Misleading the Public about the Causes of Violent Crime By Sarah Staudt, Senior Policy Analyst and Staff Attorney on behalf of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC) On Monday, Police Chie...

“Suum Cuique or why You, Lawyer, Should Not be Silent,” an Essay on Justice by David I. Schrodt

Our electronic world is frequently disorienting. Indeed, it can sometimes be worse than disorienting. We can be in our safest place and receive words written or spoken by those with power that express or strongly infer that not all law-abiding Citizens are fully protected by our system o...

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 campaign, you can sustain our court reform work for another 50 years....

The Data is Out: Bond reform in Cook County has been a tremendous success

A Policy Statement from Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers The Data is Out: Bond reform in Cook County has been a tremendous success By Sarah Staudt, Senior Policy Analyst and Staff Attorney Bond reform has freed thousands of people from pre-trial incarceration, avoide...

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 and our guests particularly appreciate how a change in government can offer the best time to create a change in...