Latest News
Seeking Community Input: 2022 Judicial Retention Candidates
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 [...]
Chicago City Council must vote NO on the Mayor’s proposed civil asset forfeiture ordinance (O2021-4130)
Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a plan to “start suing gang members to ‘take their assets’” in an attempt to curb community violence. Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts and the Chicago Council of Lawyers view the Mayor’s “Victims’ [...]
Thank you for supporting our “Identifying Hidden Injustices” series!
The Chicago Council of Lawyers and Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts work together in a Collaboration for Justice to create a legal system that is fair, equitable, and accessible to all people — regardless [...]
Driving For Opportunity Act
The bipartisan Driving for Opportunity Act of 2021 creates incentives to states to end debt-based drivers’ license suspensions. It is moving through Congress this month and we are hopeful it will move through Committee with [...]
REPORT: 10 Facts about Pretrial Electronic Monitoring in Cook County
The Chicago Council of Lawyers and Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts have released a report, 10 Facts about Pretrial Electronic Monitoring in Cook County, which catalogs data-based facts about the Cook County Sheriff’s Electronic Monitoring (EM) [...]
VICTORY: Appellate Court Rules to Preserve the Sanctity of Survivor Privileges in Illinois
On Friday, July 10, Chicago Appleseed and Chicago Council of Lawyers 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 Health Co., Contemnors-Appellants). Our pro bono [...]
Response to Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown’s Ongoing Attacks on the Independence of the Judiciary
During a traffic stop on August 7, Chicago Police Department (CPD) Officer Ella French was shot and killed, and her partner was critically wounded. In the wake of this terrible event, emotions are understandably high [...]
Renewing Our Opposition of the Death Penalty and Calling for Action
During Donald Trump’s final seven months in the White House, the US Department of Justice executed 13 people. This followed a 17-year hiatus in federal executions; in the previous 60 years, only four other people [...]
Advocates’ Letter to Cook County Circuit Court: Seal Eviction Court Filings to Promote Fair and Accessible Justice
The Chicago Council of Lawyers and Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts have joined Access Living, Beyond Legal Aid, Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, the Chicago Urban League, Chicago Volunteer [...]
Safeguarding Privacy Rights of Domestic Violence Survivors
People v. Gomez-Ramirez Case Description On June 16, oral arguments began in the Illinois appellate case of People v. Gomez-Ramirez (AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center, Bolingbrook, and Alexian Brothers-AHS Midwest Region Health Co., Contemnors-Appellants). The case, which [...]
