Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

“Evidence-Based Cook County Bail System Reform” Resolution Urges a New Push for Coordinated Reform

At the June 19 meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner John Fritchey put forward a resolution entitled “Evidence-Based Cook County Bail System Reform.” The resolution urges the Cook County judiciary to overhaul the “failing pre-trial justice system,” starting with introducing...

The Tennessee Model for Judicial Disqualification

A robust, transparent, and meaningful recusal process empowers judges and litigants. Clear standards in the code of judicial conduct (or “judicial canon”) keep judges informed of their responsibilities and the boundaries of their activities, while leaving them latitude to remain independent. Where t...

Appleseed Position Statement on S.744

Appleseed Position Statement on S.744: Improving the Accuracy, Legitimacy and Efficiency of the United States Immigration Court System Appleseed applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee’s recent significant consensus on S.744 and enthusiastically supports several aspects of the proposed legis...

Policy Brief on Judicial Evaluations

Since 2010, the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice has managed a Pilot Project for judicial evaluation: the Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County. This demonstration project explores the feasibility of using the performance commission model to evaluate judicial retention candidates to posit...

CCL Statement in Support of “Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act.”

Statement in Support of “Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act.” Senate Bill 1587 Engrossed Gordon Waldron, Chair of the Civil Liberties Committee, Chicago Council of Lawyers The Chicago Council of Lawyers supports the “Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act,” Senate Bill 1587 Engrossed. Surveillance by...