Public Statements
Formal statements issued by the Chicago Council of Lawyers in response to current events, legal issues, or matters of public concern.
Coalition of Chicagoland Bar Associations Statement on the Shooting of Alex Pretti
The Coalition of Chicagoland Bar Associations stands with the legal community in seeking accountability, transparency, and justice following the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on January 24, [...]
Statement From Attorney Robert Held On His Attack By ICE Agent
Re: DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin's January 27, 2026 Statement CHICAGO – On January 21, 2026, the Brookfield Police Department charged off-duty ICE agent Adam Saracco with Class A misdemeanor battery for throwing 68-year-old attorney and [...]
Letter to the Honorable Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court regarding Retired Judge James R. Brown
January 5, 2026 Honorable Justices, We are writing to call your attention to an article recently published by Retired Judge James R. Brown (hereafter "Judge Brown") and to request that you exercise your discretion to [...]
Praise for Chicago Lawyers and Judges Who Defend the Rule of Law
Since the Trump administration launched Operation Midway Blitz in September 2025, Chicago and its suburbs have been at the center of the administration’s efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. Masked agents of the [...]
Letter to Governor Pritzker regarding restrictions on protests against ICE in the Village of Broadview
October 24, 2025 Dear Governor Pritzker: The Chicago Council of Lawyers writes to express its appreciation for your steady leadership at a time when public confidence in law enforcement and the rule of law is [...]
Statement: Council Condemns Federal Government’s Assault on First Amendment Rights in Broadview, Illinois
The Chicago Council of Lawyers condemns what is happening with purported immigration enforcement in Broadview, Illinois. The federal government is orchestrating an assault on First Amendment rights that is unconscionable, pretextual, and cannot be tolerated.
Chicago Council of Lawyers Proudly Supports Passage of The Sonya Massey Bill (SB1953) — A Vital Step Toward Police Accountability in Illinois
The Chicago Council of Lawyers proudly supports the recent passage and signing into law of The Sonya Massey Bill (SB1953) by Governor JB Pritzker, a landmark bipartisan legislation mandating full disclosure of personal background records [...]
Chicago Council of Lawyers Condemns Trump’s Proposed Defunding of the Legal Services Corporation
On May 2, 2025, President Trump proposed a new 2026 budget that would eliminate funding to the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the country’s largest funder of civil legal aid. In Illinois, LSC provides $18 million [...]
