Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

Progress Report: First 100 Days of the New Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County

On December 1, 2020, Iris Martinez took office of Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court. The Clerk plays an essential function as the “official record keeper” for the court, responsible for collecting and disbursing all filing fees and fines, managing legal records for all court divisions, and atte...

Statement in Solidarity with Our Neighbors Demanding Justice for Adam Toledo

Published: April 16, 2021 On March 29, 2021, 13-year-old Adam Toledo was shot and killed by a Chicago Police Department (CPD) 10th District Tactical Officer. There is no justification for the death of a child -- no “Justice for Adam” -- especially at the hands of the state, but yesterday’s re...

Civilian Oversight of the Chicago Police is Long Overdue. City Council Must Pass the “Empowering Communities for Public Safety” Ordinance Now.

Published: April 7, 2021 Chicago’s history of racist, oppressive, and violent policing is well-documented. Residents of Chicago pay more to victims of police brutality per capita than any other city in the U.S. -- taxpayers are estimated to pay about $100 million per year in claims and “tens...

Support for SB 0563: The Judicial Quality Act

Published: March 31, 2021 Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts urges legislators to pass the Judicial Quality Act (SB 0563). The Act, sponsored by Senators Aquino and Hunter, mandates the “develop[ment] and implement[ation]” of “an ongoing education and training program for judges and rel...

Decarcerating Cook County: A look into the State’s Attorney’s Diversion Programs

Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, The People’s Lobby, the Chicago Council of Lawyers, and Reclaim Chicago have released the eighth report in our series on prosecutorial accountability in Cook County. The report, “Decarcerating Cook County: Use of Diversion Programs for Low-Level, “Non-Violen...