Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans welcomed a cohort of county leaders from across the country, Monday, for a National Association of Counties (NACo) peer exchange visit to Cook County. The visit marks the third and final in-person meeting for the CORE Justice Network, a program focused on empowering county leaders to identify and eliminate disparities in the local justice system.
News Room
Announcement, Press Release |
Announcement, In the News |
Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans joined Fox 32's Paris Schutz to discuss the transition of the county's electronic monitoring program to the Office of the Chief Judge. The discussion begins at the 20:48 mark.
Announcement, In the News |
Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans discusses the strengths of the Adult Probation Department's Electronic Monitoring Program, which transitioned on April 1, with Brandis Friedman, of WTTW News.
Announcement, Press Release |
Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, along with other judges and staff at the Criminal Courthouse, hosted the United Kingdom’s Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC on Tuesday to share details regarding the Court’s innovative Problem-Solving Courts and Restorative Justice programs.
Both of these court programs help to divert those convicted of non-violent felonies into programs that give participants a second chance and help them to work on the problems that led them into the criminal justice system.
Announcement, Press Release |
Starting on Tuesday, April 1, the Cook County Sheriff will stop accepting new Electronic Monitoring (“EM”) participants and all new court orders to EM will be sent to the Adult Probation Department Pretrial Services (“APD”). Operating under the Office of the Chief Judge (“OCJ”), APD has a long history running its EM program and will continue to operate the program based on the procedures it has developed over the past fourteen years.
In advance of this transition, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans issued the following statement:
Announcement, In the News |
University of Illinois Chicago Law School Professors Michael P. Seng, Stephen Schlegel and student Christine Drew penned a guest editorial in Thursday's Chicago Sun-Times, citing the importance or resolving nonviolent gun cases in our Restorative Justice Community Courts.
Announcement, In the News |
Restorative Justice Practitioner Audrey Dunford was quoted in this New York Times article regarding her role in Stick Talk.
Announcement, In the News |
The Chicago Tribune shares this exclusive story about our Family Navigators, who assist family members with everything they need to know about our court process and guiding their family members and loved ones through it.
Announcement, In the News |
Judge Patricia Spratt joins WGN Radio's Karen Conti to discuss the WTTW documentary "Firsthand: Peacekeepers!" Spratt, who presides over the North Lawndale Restorative Justice Community Court, is featured in the documentary. Judge Spratt details the process and the criteria for those participating in the program.
How restorative justice is changing young people’s lives | WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own
Announcement, In the News |
Judge Patricia Spratt spends most of her week in a traditional courtroom in Maywood. But every Thursday, she turns her attention to healing and reconciliation in North Lawndale, where she leads the neighborhood’s Restorative Justice Community Court. Her role is to transform young lives through restorative justice. The goal is to heal victims, the community, and the offenders themselves.
WTTW Documentaries highlights her work in this installment of "Firsthand Peacekeepers."
Announcement, In the News |
The Hon. Patricia Spratt, who presides over the North Lawndale Restorative Justice Community Court, joined WTTW's Chicago Tonight to discuss the importance of the RJCC in the community. Full episode linked below.
Chicago Tonight | Feb. 17, 2025 - Full Show | Season 2025 | PBS
In the News |
CBS attended some of the Valentine's Day weddings conducted by Cook County judges on Friday.
In the News |
Press Release |
Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced a pilot project that will combine cases involving mental health treatment and guardianship before a single judge, thus providing more clarity and support for respondents and their families.
In the News |
The New York Times included the Circuit Court of Cook County and the weddings our judges performed on Valentine's Day, in their Valentine's Day coverage.
‘Joyful Chaos’: Couples Flock to Courthouses to Wed on Valentine’s Day - The New York Times
Press Release |
For the first time since 2020, and 2014 before that, Valentine’s Day lands on a Friday, which also happens to be the most popular day for courthouse weddings.
Judge Diann Marsalek, who presides over marriage court, is predicting a higher-than-usual profusion of lace and flowers next Friday in addition to the typical pink and red decorations.
Marsalek said Friday is typically the busiest wedding day because couples can celebrate over the weekend. On the court’s busiest days, judges can marry between 200 and 250 couples.
Announcement, Press Release |
Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans has appointed the Hon. Andrea M. Buford to serve as Acting Presiding Judge of the Child Protection Division.
Judge Buford replaces Presiding Judge Robert Balanoff, who retired on Thursday, January 30th.
“Judge Buford has a great deal of experience in this highly sensitive and vital division of the Cook County Circuit Court,” said Judge Evans. “She is known for her compassion, knowledge and hard work, and I am sure she will do an excellent job in her new position.”
Announcement, Press Release |
Two state agencies with authority over Illinois juvenile detention center operations have given the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) exemplary reviews in separate reports issued in recent weeks.
Press Release |
The Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County is expected to resume on schedule Friday morning, Jan. 24., following an investigation into a threat made to the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
Press Release |
Due to the extremely cold weather predicted for Tuesday, January 21 that may adversely impact the health and safety of court personnel and litigants, the Circuit Court of Cook County is encouraging participants to attend court remotely, if possible, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.
Announcement, Press Release |
“The Office of the Chief Judge has completed a review of the circumstances surrounding Lacramioara Beldie’s tragic death on Nov. 19. Our office has gathered transcripts and court records from the civil and criminal proceedings against the accused, Constantin Beldie. The decision by the Court not to detain Beldie on Oct.
Announcement, Press Release |
Cook County court documents should be more accessible this year, thanks to a $17,000 Disability Accessibility Improvement grant awarded by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice.
In the News |
ABC 7's Leah Hope covered Monday's swearing in of 40 new Cook County judges.
In the News |
CBS 2 coverage of Adoption Day 2024
Ten children join forever families as Cook County celebrates National Adoption Day - CBS Chicago
In the News |
ABC 7 coverage of Adoption Day 2024
In the News |
NBC 5 coverage of Adoption Day 2024
Children welcomed into new families on National Adoption Day – NBC Chicago
In the News |
WGN TV coverage of Adoption Day 2024
10 Chicago kids join forever families in National Adoption Day-eve ceremony | WGN-TV
In the News |
From the pages of the Cook County Chronicle:
Court-program participants given second chance - Chronicle Media
Press Release |
Ten children will be joined to eight loving families on Friday at a National Adoption Day ceremony hosted at the Daley Center courthouse.
In the News |
Injustice Watch explores how the order entitles tenants to quickly receive information about whether their landlords are being sued for building code violations.
Cook County Chief Judge issues eviction court reform order | Injustice Watch