State Farm, Judicial Elections, Integrity and Recusal

In 2011, Chicago Appleseed, with assistance from pro bono attorneys at DLA Piper filed an amicus brief in the Illinois Supreme Court case, Avery v. State Farm. We took no position on the merits of the case, which involved a consumer dispute over replacement parts for insured cars damaged in crashes,...
March 10, 2015

The Search for Cook County’s New Public Defender

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has started a search process for the new Public Defender in Cook County. On March 31, 2015, Abishi Cunningham’s six-year term as Public Defender for Cook County will end. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has elected to replace Cunningham with...
January 13, 2015

Congratulations to Staff Attorney Ali Abid on Partner of the Year Award

On Saturday October 4th, at their 132nd Annual Assembly, the Community Renewal Society honored Chicago Appleseed Staff Attorney, Ali Abid, with their Partner of the Year Award. The Community Renewal Society is a progressive, faith-based organization that works to eliminate race and class barriers....
October 8, 2014

The Coming Fees Crisis: Poverty Capitalism in the Courts

  This past week, two important pieces have appeared on NPR and the New York Times bringing attention to the increased practice of levying exploitive fines and fees on indigent people passing through the criminal and civil justice system. The first piece from NPR, based on a report of a S...
August 28, 2014