Good Government Organizations

Organizations advancing transparency, ethics reform, fiscal accountability and civic engagement in Illinois.

• The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability provides research and policy analysis on Illinois fiscal policy, tax systems, and public finance to promote equitable and transparent budgeting practices.

• Reform for Illinois is a nonpartisan organization focused on ethics reform, campaign transparency, and strengthening accountability in Illinois government.
• Change Illinois advocates for government transparency, structural reform, and ethical standards in public service across Illinois.
• Common Cause Illinois works to strengthen democratic institutions through advocacy for voting rights, ethics, reform, and open government.
• Illinois Public Interest Law Initiative expands access to justice by connecting law students and attorneys with public interest legal opportunities and pro bono initatives.
• Better Government Association is an investigative and policy organization dedicated to exposing corruption and promoting ethical government practices through journalism and reform advocacy.
• Citizens Advocacy Center promotes civic education and public participation in local government through training, leadership development, and community engagement.
• Civic Federation provides independent analysis of government finance, budgets, and fiscal policy to encourage sound financial management and accountability.
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugees Rights advocates for policies and community engagement efforts that support immigrant and refugee rights and access to services in Illinois.

National Advocacy Groups

National groups advancing civil liberties, ethics enforcement, campaign finance transparency, and constitutional governance.

• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a national organization dedicated to defending constitutional rights and civil liberties through litigation, advocacy, and public education.
• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a government watchdog organization focused on ethics enforcement, transparency, and accountability in the federal government.
• Alliance for Justice engages in research and advocacy related to judicial nominations, access to the courts, and the role of the judiciary in protecting constitutional rights.
• Electronic Frontier Foundation works to defend civil liberties in the digital age, including privacy rights, free expression, and technology policy.
• Common Cause is a national nonpartisan organization advocating for campaign finance reform, voting rights, and government transparency.
• OpenSecrets provides publicly accessible data and analysis on money in politics, campaign finance, and lobbying expenditures.
• Public Citizen advances consumer rights, government accountability, corporate transparency, and public interest protections through litigation and advocacy.

Legal Groups

Professional legal organizations and service providers supporting access to justice, diversity in the legal profession, and professional excellence.

• American Constitution Society is a network of legal professionals and scholars focused on constitutional law and the rule of law.
• The American Bar Association is a national professional association for attorneys promoting legal education, ethics standards, and improvements in the administration of justice.
• Illinois State Bar Association supports Illinois attorneys through professional development, legal education, and advocacy related to the practice of law.The
• Chicago Bar Association provides continuing legal education, networking, and public service initatives within the Chicago legal community.
• Legal Aid Chicago offers free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in areas including housing, domestic violence, and public benefits.
• CARPLS provides legal information, referrals, and brief advice services to individuals navigating civil legal matters.
• Metropolitan Family Services offers legal assistance and social services to strengthen families and communities in the Chicago area.
• Mandel Legal Aid provides free legal representation through clinical programs addressing civil rights, housing, immigration, and public interest law.
• Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights engages in litigation and advocacy to advance civil rights and promote racial equity.
• The Federal Bar Association represents attorneys practicing in federal courts and supports education related to federal practice.
  
• The Arab-American Bar Association promotes professional development and community engagement among Arab-American attorneys and legal professionals.
• Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago supports Asian American attorneys through networking, mentorship, and advocacy while promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal profession.
• Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA) fosters professional growth, leadership, and community service among Black women attorneys and works to advance equity within the legal system.
• The Cook County Bar Association (CCBA) is one of the nation’s oldest associations of African American lawyers, dedicated to promoting diversity, professional excellence, and equal justice.
• The Decalogue Society of Lawyers (DSL) is a Jewish bar association focused on promoting justice, combating discrimination, and supporting professional development.
• The Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois (HBA) promotes professional development and community engagement among attorneys of Hellenic heritage.
• Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) advances the interests of Hispanic attorneys and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession.
• The Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago supports LGBTQ+ legal professionals and advocates for equality and inclusion within the legal system and broader community.
• The Puerto Rican Bar Association (PRBA) promotes professional advancement, cultural awareness, and access to justice within the Puerto Rican and broader Latino communities.
• The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) advances the professional development of women attorneys and promotes gender equity within the legal profession.
• The National Immigrant Justice Center provides direct legal services, impact litigation, and policy advocacy to protect the rights of immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.

Tracking Sites for Trump Litigation

• Just Security’s Trump Administration Litigation Tracker provides a regularly updated overview of lawsuits and legal challenges involving executive actions and federal policy decisions. The tracker summarizes active and resolved cases, key court rulings, and procedural developments, making it a useful resource for following ongoing litigation involving the Trump administration across multiple jurisdictions.
• Lawfare compiles and analyzes major court cases involving executive authority, administrative actions, and constitutional questions. This resource highlights filings, judicial decisions, and case status updates, helping readers monitor how legal challenges to administrative actions progress through the courts.
• The Associated Press executive order lawsuit tracker follows legal challenges related to presidential executive orders and related federal actions. This interactive resource provides case summaries, timelines, and status updates, offering a newsroom-driven overview of how courts are responding to executive branch directives.
• The New York Times tracker presents an interactive database of major lawsuits connected to administration policies and directives. The tracker outlines where cases are filed, what issues are being litigated, and how courts have ruled, giving readers a structured way to follow developments across the federal court system.
• The Brennan Center Shadow Docket Tracker monitors emergency and expedited Supreme Court actions, including matters involving challenges to Trump administration policies. This resource explains shadow docket activity, procedural posture, and outcomes, providing context on fast-moving Supreme Court decisions that affect pending litigation.