Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

April 29 Public Forum! Justice Through Efficiency: Managing An Overburdened Justice System

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Invites You to Attend a Panel-discussion Forum Hosted by the Cook County Justice Advisory Council Efficiency is one of the cornerstones of justice. Efficient administration of justice promotes a speedy trial and all of its attendant benefits. While that...

April 13 Public Forum: Immigration Court Reform, Part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Casa Aztlan and Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice Co-Sponsor A Public Forum: Immigration Court Reform, Part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform The debate over comprehensive immigration reform includes a discussion of how to reform our immigration courts. These courts are at the heart of the immig...

“Bailing Out of a Medieval System”

As Chicago searches for ways to reduce its exploding jail population, it need look no further than neighboring Rockford. Tom Warkowski, a former Winnebago County Assistant State's Attorney was appointed Jail Population Analyst under a court order by the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois to r...

Reducing Jail Overcrowding in Cook County

The Cook County jail is nearly full again, jumping two seasons ahead of its usual autumn peak. On March 2nd, the Chicago Tribune reported on one reasonable means to reduce the jail population safely and cost-effectively--by tracking defendants on GPS monitors while they await trial. And there are ma...

Filling Judicial Vacancies

The Chicago Tribune has reported that Justice Freeman of the Illinois Supreme Court has appointed his long-time law clerk, Jean Cocozza, to a vacancy in the Circuit Court. The Tribune reports that Judge Cocozza has no courtroom experience and that she was not evaluated for judicial service by any in...