News Room

Kelly Gallivan-Ilarraza, a specialist in the field of problem-solving alternatives in criminal court cases, will be the new Specialty Court Coordinator starting October 1, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced on Thursday. 

“As director of specialty courts, Kelly Gallivan-Ilarraza will be responsible for integrating these courts throughout the system by expanding existing courts and developing new ones,” said Judge Evans. “She also will help in establishing protocols, training and evaluation to ensure their continued success.” 

South Side aldermen, state and federal lawmakers, judges and community representatives joined Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans on Wednesday to cut the ribbon for the new Restorative Justice Community Court in Englewood. 

The following is a statement from Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans: 

“At this time, as the general public, quite appropriately, prepares for the November 3 election by reviewing the qualifications and performance of many of our judges, it is important to remember that people who take the oath to be a Cook County Circuit Court judge are ethically bound to be independent in their rulings, free from fear or favor.

The Circuit Court of Cook County is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 16, to launch its new Restorative Justice Community Court in the Englewood neighborhood, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today. 

This new court, the first on the city’s South Side, follows the success of the state’s first Restorative Justice Community Court in the North Lawndale neighborhood, launched in 2017. Both the Englewood court and a new Avondale community court open this week.

All Cook County courts are expected to be open on Tuesday, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans said on Monday afternoon. 

On Monday morning, Judge Evans ordered the closing of all courts, with the exception of bond courts, in the wake of civil unrest that led to the closing of roads downtown and limits on public transportation. 

Nearly all court proceedings are being conducted via Zoom. Litigants are advised to check with their attorneys, or with the clerk of the court, before coming to a courthouse. 

Due to restricted access to Chicago’s downtown area resulting from public safety activities and limits on public transportation, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans on Monday postponed a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Restorative Justice Community Court in Englewood. 

The ceremony had been scheduled for 11 a.m. this morning at the Salvation Army’s Adele and Robert Stern Red Shield Center, 845 West 69th Street. 

Information on a future date for the ceremony will be provided when available.  

Due to restricted access to Chicago’s downtown area resulting from public safety activities and limits on public transportation, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans on Monday ordered the closing of all courts, with the exception of bond courts. 

Bond courts at the Leighton Criminal Court House, the Domestic Violence Courthouse at 555 West Harrison Street, the Juvenile Justice Division and all six Municipal Districts will remain open. 

The Circuit Court of Cook County is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, August 10 to launch its new Restorative Justice Community Court in the Englewood neighborhood, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today.  

This new court, the first on the city’s South Side, follows the success of the state’s first Restorative Justice Community Court in the North Lawndale neighborhood, launched in 2017. Both the Englewood court and a new Avondale community court will open on September 14. 

Northwest Side public officials, judges and community representatives joined Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans on Monday to cut the ribbon for a new Restorative Justice Community Court in Avondale. 

The Circuit Court of Cook County is set to launch its latest effort to address nonviolent crime and prevent recidivism with the opening of new Restorative Justice Community Courts in Chicago’s Avondale and Englewood neighborhoods, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today.

These new neighborhood courts follow the success of the state’s first Restorative Justice Community Court in the North Lawndale neighborhood, launched in 2017. Both the Avondale and Englewood community courts will open on September 14.

Persons with a traffic case at the First Municipal District in the Daley Center are reminded that all Traffic Section cases will be scheduled for videoconference on Zoom. Please look for the time, date and room number on the citation so you will know the correct Zoom information, and do not come to court if you are not set for an in-person hearing.

Starting on Monday, July 6, the Circuit Court of Cook County will resume in-person court proceedings, with the exception of jury trials. However, the circuit court will continue to hold hearings by videoconference whenever it is reasonably possible.

To avoid an unnecessary trip to the courthouse, all litigants should consult with their legal counsel or the Clerk of the Circuit Court for information about whether to appear in-person, or for instructions for participating in virtual court proceedings.

More court proceedings to resume July 6

Jury trials remain postponed in criminal and civil cases

Discussions continue on the upcoming phases of operation in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The court is currently operating on its modified schedule through May 31. The court continues to monitor the pandemic and is mindful that the pandemic is not expected to peak until mid-June.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today entered an

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today entered an

Many criminal and civil cases in the Circuit Court of Cook County will be postponed for a 30-day period starting Tuesday (March 17) due to the spread of the coronavirus, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today.

Court operations will proceed as scheduled on Monday (March 16). The 30-day period runs from March 17 through April 15.

Pursuant to action taken Wednesday by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Circuit Judge Jackie Marie Portman-Brown has been reassigned to administrative duties. The assignment is effective until further notice.

The committee is aware that a security camera at the Leighton Criminal Court Building recorded Judge Portman-Brown placing a child relative into an empty lockup. On February 26, Chief Judge Evans directed Criminal Division Presiding Judge LeRoy K. Martin Jr. to assign Judge Portman-Brown to administrative duties.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awarded the Cook County justice system a $2.5 million grant to continue advancing criminal justice reform. Today’s announcement brings the MacArthur Foundation’s total investment in Cook County to $4.4 million.

The Nominating Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County today announced its selection of the 30 candidates who will seek appointment to15 Associate Judge vacancies by a vote of the Circuit Judges. All of the candidates received across-the-board positive ratings from the bar associations.

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today appointed Honorable Daniel B. Malone to serve as the Acting Presiding Judge of the court’s Probate Division. The appointment is effective today. 

Judge Malone became a circuit judge in 2009. He initially served in the First Municipal District and has served in the Probate Division since 2013. In the Probate Division, he has heard cases involving decedent’s estates and guardianship matters involving minors and individuals with disabilities.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today released a report that reviews the initial results of his order that established new bail practices in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Chief Judge Evans’ General Order 18.8A took effect on September 18, 2017. The report compares outcomes in two 15-month time periods before and after the order’s effective date: (1) July 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017 and (2) October 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018.

The report shows that the increased release of defendants from jail did not increase the threat to public safety in Cook County.

To ensure that nobody is placed in danger while traveling to and from court due to the anticipated historic cold temperatures for our area, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today that the Circuit Court of Cook County will be closed on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 and Thursday, January 31, 2019.

The Circuit Court of Cook County opened an Adult Drug Treatment Court today at the Rolling Meadows courthouse, ensuring that problem-solving courts are available to nonviolent felony defendants throughout the entire system.

In advance of the Illinois bicentennial celebration on December 3, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans will unveil a portrait of Abraham Lincoln that will be displayed in the Jury Assembly Room of the Richard J. Daley Center.    

The Circuit Court and Cook County have finalized the scheduled closing of two Chicago branch court locations – 155 W. 51^st St. and 2452 W. Belmont Ave.  – to take effect after court concludes on January 4, 2019.

The two branch court closings, which were finalized as part of the budget litigation settlement between the county and the court, will help the county avoid $9.2 million in repairs, renovations and maintenance that would be necessary to keep the two buildings safe, operational and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Pursuant to action taken Monday by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Circuit Judge William H. Hooks has been referred to anger-management counseling while he performs administrative duties until further notice. 

The committee is aware that Judge Hooks is accused of acting in such a manner that created a hostile work environment for another judge. The alleged conduct did not occur inside a courtroom. Judge Hooks expressed contrition to the Executive Committee regarding the matter. The committee referred the matter to the Judicial Inquiry Board. 

Pursuant to action taken Wednesday by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Circuit Judge Mauricio Araujo and Associate Judge Richard D. Schwind have been reassigned to administrative duties. The assignments are effective until further notice. 

The Executive Committee’s decision on the reassignments followed a meeting of the Circuit Court of Cook County Executive Committee convened by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. 

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans’ creation of a Pretrial Division and his entering of General Order 18.8A on bail and pretrial release in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

The Circuit Court has processed and validated nine months of administrative data to present the following facts:

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today appointed Honorable Raul Vega to serve as the Acting Presiding Judge of the court’s Domestic Violence Division. The appointment is effective September 4, 2018.

Judge Vega was elected a circuit judge in 2002. He initially served in the First Municipal District and has served in the Domestic Relations Division since June 2003. He has heard just about every type of domestic relations matter, such as divorces, child-custody disputes and requests for orders of protection.