Latest News
New NJDC Report Documents States’ Failure to Protect Children’s Right to Counsel
The National Juvenile Defender Center (“NJDC”) has issued new report that examines a serious failure in our justice system: the systematic denial of children’s constitutional right to a public defense. As NJDC’s troubling new report, [...]
Immigration Court Access
On April 5, 2017, Steven Schulman, Pro Bono Partner at Akin Gump and principal author of the Appleseed Immigration Court Practice Guide, led a training for attorneys on overcoming obstacles in immigration court. The event [...]
Chicago Council of Lawyers Releases Judicial Evaluations
The Chicago Council of Lawyers has released its judicial evaluations for the November 2016 election. The Council provides a written report providing short biographies and the reasons for its findings, both for judges seeking retention and for candidates [...]
Chicago Council Responds to Mayor’s Proposed Police Accountability Ordinance
On August 30, Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a statement on police accountability and a draft ordinance to replace the Independent Police Review Authority with a new agency. The Chicago Council of Lawyers offers its thoughts below. [...]
Statement on PATF Report
In April 2016, the Police Accountability Task Force issued their 190-page report: Recommendations for Reform: Restoring Trust between the Chicago Police and the Communities They Serve. The Report addresses many subjects, ranging from how to [...]
Report on the Impact of Court Fines, Fees and Costs
The Collaboration for Justice—the joint social justice effort of Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice and the Chicago Council of Lawyers—has released a report on the impact and legality of court fines, fees and costs. The [...]
Thank you for voting for qualified judges
Thank you to those of you who used the judicial evaluations of the Chicago Council of Lawyers to help you vote for qualified judges. The integrity and independence of our judges depend upon an informed electorate [...]
The Race for Clerk of the Court
The Primary Election in Illinois is March 15th, and early voting is happening now. The Chicago Council of Lawyers wants voters to focus on electing the most qualified judges possible, but there are other races [...]
Chicago Council of Lawyers Releases Judicial Evaluations for the March 15, 2016 Primary Election
The Chicago Council of Lawyers has released its judicial evaluations for the March 15, 2016 Primary Election. You can view or download the Judicial Evaluation Report in alphabetical order, the Judicial Evaluation Report in ballot order, or a [...]
Regulating Stingray Technology
The Civil Liberties Committee of the Chicago Council of Lawyers has called on the state of Illinois to regulate the government's use of Stingray technology. On January 20, 2016, Representative Ann Williams of Chicago introduced Illinois [...]