Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

Cook County Jail’s First COVID-19 Death Could (and Should) Have Been Prevented

Jeffrey Pendleton is the first person known to have died after contracting COVID-19 in the Cook County Jail. His infection and eventual death were avoidable and preventable. Each and every government actor who objected to his release—or contributed to his incarceration in the first place—played a ro...

Cook County Officials Bear Most Direct Duty of Care to Those in Custody during COVID-19 Pandemic

By Sarah Staudt, Senior Policy Analyst & Staff Attorney for the Collaboration for Justice of Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers Cook County Jail must immediately, and drastically, reduce its jail population. Over two weeks ago, Chicago Appleseed organized the fir...

Cook County’s Inadequate Response to the COVID-19 Crisis at Cook County Jail Continues to Put Lives at Risk

Joint Statement from Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Community Bond Fund For the last two weeks, over 100 advocacy, community, legal organizations, and unions have called on Cook County to release people from the jail to protect public health. In that time, Cook County courts have released...

Open Letter to the Illinois Supreme Court: Immediate Action Needed to Ensure Public Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dear Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court: A key role of the Illinois Supreme Court is to issue orders and promulgate rules that make the local courts fairer, more effective, and efficient. At this time of public health emergency, it is incumbent upon the Illinois Supreme Court to protect litig...

Statement from Advocates to Chief Judge Evans: Need For Immediate Additional Action by Cook County Courts to Ensure Public Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dear Chief Judge Evans, The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented threat to public safety. The criminal courts, in particular, have a critically important responsibility in permitting people under their jurisdiction to follow CDC recommendations to stay home when feeling ill to properly c...