Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

Thoughts on Judicial Evaluation, Following Judge Brim’s Acquittal

Judge Liam Brennan, who normally sits in Will county, presided over the misdemeanor battery trial of Judge Cynthia Brim. Judge Brim offered the defense that she was legally insane at the time of the incident at the Daley Center courthouse which lead to her arrest, suspension from the bench and trial...

Reconsidering Judicial Retention in Illinois

On Friday, Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy introduced a bill to amend the Illinois Constitution with regard to the retention of sitting judges. Rep. Cassidy’s bill would create a “Judicial Retention Commission in each Judicial District to evaluate the qualifications of Supreme and Appe...

Public Confidence in the Judiciary

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin reports (registration required) that Circuit Court Judge Maddux has granted a request that a judge from outside Cook County be brought in to preside over the defamation suit Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jim Ryan has brought against Fox Chicago News and the Better Go...

Tools: Alternative Small Dollar Loan Toolkit

Chicago Appleseed was pleased to partner with the Illinois Asset Building Coalition in the development of the Alternative Small Dollar Loan Toolkit (ASDL Toolkit). The ASDL Toolkit serves as a resource for banks and credit unions interested in offering a safe, profitable, small dollar loan (SDL) pr...

Policy Brief: Judicial Recusal

Last month, Chicago Appleseed shared a policy brief on judicial recusal standards with the Illinois Supreme Court. The policy brief, written by staff attorney Elizabeth Monkus with assistance from staff intern Sarah Swearer, focuses on the features of meaningful recusal standards and procedures. Sp...