Next Steps for Domestic Relations

Over the last five years, Chicago Appleseed has been working closely with Grace Dickler, the Presiding Judge of the Cook County Domestic Relations Division. Together, we have collaborated to remake the domestic relations courts into a single, modern court that not only serves the needs families usin...
September 20, 2017

August is Child Support Awareness Month

Last month, Illinois adopted an “income shares” model for determining child support, joining 39 other states in considering the income of both parents in calculating the money needed to raise their child. “Income shares” for calculating child support is based upon a model developed by the Federal Of...
August 24, 2017

The Bi-Partisan Dream Act Strengthens Communities

Senator Durbin (D-Illinois), along with Senator Graham (R-South Carolina), has re-introduced the Dream Act, legislation to streamline the immigration process for young people who have lived in the United States since childhood. It was first introduced in 2001 and despite broad bi-partisan support, i...
July 27, 2017

Cook County Chief Judge Announces New Order Limiting Use of Monetary Bond

Chicago Appleseed and our partner Chicago Council of Lawyers applaud today’s announcement by Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, that his office will direct judges to set monetary bonds only in amounts that people can pay. This move brings Cook County in line with a re...
July 17, 2017