In 2023, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts joined the Chicago Council of Lawyers to formalize our community court-watching process as its own program, the Court Observation and Education Program (COEP).
Our court-watching program is founded on the principle that observing court proceedings directly allows us to better understand them. We train community members to court-watch to encourage them to witness the harms and injustices of the courts first-hand, and we collect their observational data to strengthen our research and advocacy.
The following reports demonstrate the pivotal role court-watching plays in our research:
- Restorative justice, community, & the courts: An analysis of the impact, benefits, and elements “constantly in conflict” in Chicago’s RestorativeJustice Community Courts [February 2024]
- I don’t know why I’m here: Observations from Cook County’s civil asset forfeiture courtrooms [April 2023]
- One size doesn’t fit all: A review of post-plea Problem-Solving Courts in Cook County [March 2023]
Use the form below to sign up for emails about upcoming court-watching opportunities and training sessions!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can anyone court-watch?
The courts are public spaces, so they are generally open to the public! We believe that anyone can (and should) court-watch regardless of their background or education. Our training sessions are intended to be accessible, so please don’t feel intimidated!
What is the time commitment?
This depends on the project, but we typically only ask volunteers to attend an hour-long training session and then court-watch at least three times per month. Volunteers may stop court-watching at any time throughout a project.
Are there virtual opportunities?
We offer a mixture of in-person and virtual court-watching opportunities, though not necessarily at the same time. If you sign up for more information using the Volunteer tab above, you will receive information about in-person and virtual opportunities.
Questions about volunteering or the purpose, process, and mission of COEP should be directed to court-watching@chicagoappleseed.org.