Latest News
President Trump’s Commutation of Roger Stone’s Sentence Subverts the Rule of Law
Written by Robert E. Lehrer, Board Member of the Chicago Council of Lawyers Almost immediately after President Trump’s July 10 commutation of Roger Stone’s 40-month prison sentence (Stone being Trump’s longtime friend and confidante, a [...]
Amicus Brief filed in the Illinois Appellate Case of People v. Gomez-Ramirez
On Friday, July 10, Chicago Council of Lawyers and Chicago Appleseed submitted an amicus brief in the Illinois appellate case of People v. Gomez-Ramirez (AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center, Bolingbrook, and Alexian Brothers-AHS Midwest Region [...]
Chicago Police Superintendent Wrongfully Blames Gun Violence on Bond Reform
This is a joint statement from the member organizations of the Coalition to End Money Bond. You can find its original publication here. On July 6, 2020, new Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown held a press [...]
The License to Work Act Goes Into Effect Today!
We're sharing the following news release from the Transit Table Coalition regarding its impact. Thousands of Illinoisans who lost driving privileges for non-driving violations like unpaid parking ticket debt join with community advocates to celebrate [...]
Support for Changes to Chicago’s Vehicle Impoundment Ordinance
We must not fund our courts, nor our government, through systems of fines and fees that present a disproportionate burden to our economically vulnerable community members. Reducing punitive fines and fees and restructuring enforcement mechanisms [...]
CPD Barriers to Quality Stationhouse Representation
On Tuesday, June 23, Public Defender Amy Campanelli held a press conference to announce the filing of a lawsuit demanding the Chicago Police Department (CPD) abide by state law to provide a phone – and phone number for [...]
STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE CONDUCT OF CHICAGO’S POLICE DURING PROTESTS
The Chicago Council of Lawyers was founded in 1969 by local lawyers, still reeling from the prior year’s Democratic National Convention, who were concerned about the fundamentally unfair policies and practices prevailing in Chicago and [...]
Eliminating Money Bond is an Evidence-Based, Common Sense Approach to Combat Mass Incarceration
This morning, the Chicago Tribune published an attack on bail reform in Cook County. Today’s article attacked two respected organizations, the Chicago Community Bond Fund and The Bail Project, a national bond fund. As leaders [...]
Victory in Federal Court: Sheriff Tom Dart Ordered to Improve COVID-19 Protections in Cook County Jail
This morning, Federal Judge Matthew Kennelly issued a court order that extends federal court oversight of the Cook County Jail, requiring Sheriff Tom Dart to make desperately needed changes to the conditions inside and decrease [...]
Calling on IL Attorney General & Cook County Court to Protect Consumers Against CARES Act Garnishments
The Collaboration for Justice—Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers—works to promote equity and full access to justice for all in our courts and regulatory systems. We promote reforms that recognize the intersection of [...]
