News Archive

The Circuit Court of Cook County is set to launch a newapproach to address nonviolent crime with the opening of its first-everRestorative Justice Community Court in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood,Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today. 

“Asa court system, we must work to end the cycle of recidivism. Our new CommunityCourt empowers victims and residents to work as our partners to help restorenonviolent individuals back to society, provide restitution to victims, andimprove our overall quality of life,” Chief Judge Evans said.  

Defendants who pose no danger to the public will be released from custody pending trial because any future bail amounts will be set at an amount they can afford, under an order Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans entered today that will take effect on September 18, 2017, in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Three suburban court programs will get a boost to existing efforts that help drug users, thanks to a new federal grant.

“I am saddened to learn of the passing of Commissioner Robert Steele and offer my deepest condolences to his family, colleagues and constituents.”

“Commissioner Steele was an effective advocate not only for his district but for the justice system as well. He took particular interest in the young men and women in the system, and I will always be thankful for his support to programs that helped individuals find a positive path to travel in life.”

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Superintendent Leonard Dixon today opened a barber school at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center to help residents obtain a state barber license.

The class will help interested residents seek educational and employment opportunities upon their release into the community. If a resident does not complete the 1,500 hours of class time required to receive an Illinois barber license during JTDC residency, completed hours can be applied to a barber school in the community.

Pursuant to action taken Tuesday by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Circuit Judge Jessica A. O’Brien has been reassigned to administrative duties in the office of the Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District, Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr.

The assignment is effective until further notice.

The Executive Committee’s decision to reassign Judge O’Brien followed a meeting of the Circuit Court of Cook County Executive Committee convened Tuesday by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

Please see the below statement issued this morning by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans:

“I join all of the judges today in the Circuit Court of Cook County in expressing our sadness regarding the tragic passing of our colleague and friend, Associate Judge Raymond Myles. I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in the Criminal Division.”

On-call attorneys now available for consultations in police stations

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today appointed Circuit Judge Tommy Brewer as Acting Presiding Judge of the court’s Sixth Municipal District effective immediately. He succeeds former Presiding Judge Marjorie C. Laws who retired on Friday, January 20, 2017.

On a national level, there is a public conversation about the use of monetary bond in pretrial detention of defendants.

Locally, a Cook County Board resolution seeks to hold a hearing to explore the issue of alternatives to monetary bond.

I’m pleased that Cook County is joining the national conversation at this time. The Circuit Court of Cook County is currently in a transition period regarding pretrial detention in felony cases in Central Bond Court at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.