Latest News
“Slipping Through the Cracks” – Evaluation of the Cook County Domestic Violence Division in Chicago
Since early 2020, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts and the Chicago Council of Lawyers have been evaluating the Domestic Violence Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, with a specific focus on the [...]
Amicus in People v. Moore: There is no justice when access is random or when the rules are unpredictable
In May, the Chicago Council of Lawyers joined an amicus brief submitted by the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in the Illinois Supreme Court case, People v. Moore. Our Collaboration for Justice is proud to add our support to the brief which argues for full access to justice for youth in incarceration.
All People Deserve Access to Their Rights – Especially Those as Foundational as the Presumption of Innocence
Cook County leads the nation in exonerations based on false confessions. Between 1972 and 1991, Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge tortured at least 119 people – most of whom were young Black men – in order to force false [...]
Primary Election Judicial Evaluations for June 2022 are Live!
Among the Chicago Council of Lawyers’ most vital projects are our state judicial evaluations. This crucial public service to help the citizens of Illinois vote for qualified judges. The quality of our judiciary is a [...]
Two Years In: Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Remote Court Proceedings
The need to preserve court access during the pandemic moved hearings online. Remote court hearings are expected to continue – even as the courts return to in-person proceedings. While the transition has raised some concerns related to due process and accessibility, there appear to be some benefits to remote proceedings as well
Open Letter to President Biden: End the Decades-Long Imprisonment of Men Held Without Charge at Guantánamo
The Chicago Council of Lawyers joins the International Committee of the Red Cross in calling on President Biden to release forthwith the nineteen men held without charge at Guantánamo for two decades, who already have [...]
“Organized Retail Theft” Bill is an Extreme Approach to an Imaginary Problem
This week, the Illinois Retail Merchants’ Association succeeded in convincing the Illinois General Assembly to introduce legislation targeted at reducing “organized retail theft.” Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts and the Chicago Council of Lawyers [...]
Announcing: Jill Dupont Memorial Fellowship of the Collaboration for Justice
Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, an affiliate of Appleseed, and the Chicago Council of Lawyers, Chicago’s public interest bar association, are incredibly honored to announce the creation of the Jill Dupont Memorial Fellowship of [...]
Progress Report: First Year of the New Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
The Clerk’s Office has made meaningful progress in several areas, but much work remains to bring the office up to the standards of technological competence, customer service, and accessibility that are necessary for public agencies.
Call to Support: Creating Opportunity for Illinoisans in Need (COIN II) Act
The COIN II Act would implement a 100% pass-through and disregard policy for families receiving TANF benefits and child support. This means that the full support payment would go to parents and their children—and none would be withheld by the state.