1.    The locations and starting times for Central Bond Court and for the other Branch Courts located at the Criminal Court Building are listed below:

Branch 1, Central Bond Court, Room 100, 12 noon, everyday
Branch 2, Traffic (Felony), Room 100, 9 a.m., Mon-Fri
Branch 3, Traffic (Misdemeanor), Room 100, 10:30a.m.,  Mon-Fri
Branch 7, Adult Redeploy Illinois, Room 100, 2 p.m., Mon-Fri
Branch 9, SAO Deferred Prosecution, Room 100, 3 p.m., Mon-Fri
Branch 46, Misdemeanor Jury Call, Room 102, 9 a.m., Mon-Fri
Branch 46, Misd. Probation Violation, Room 102, 9 a.m., Thurs
Branch 66, Sex/Murder Prelim. Hrgs., Room 101, 12 noon, Mon-Fri
Branch 98, Extradition, Room 101, 11:30 a.m., Mon-Fri

For information about the assignment call or arraignment hearings, contact the clerks outside Room #101 who handlle the assignment or arraignment at (773)674-3162.

The Supplemental Courts Information Hotline is (773)674-3359. The information line is regularly updated each day as soon as the court coordinators are aware of available courtrooms for the individual supplemental court judges.

For information about a defendant on the sexually violent call, contact the staff attorney in the Office of the Presiding Judge who handles this call at (773)674-2697 or (773)674-3160.

Pursuant to Illinois law, certain cases are eligible to be “expunged” or “sealed,” thereby removing them from a defendant’s criminal history record or accessibility to the public, respectively. Individuals who have criminal records eligible for this procedure might seek to use it in order to obtain a job, protect a current job, help them with certain licensing prospects, or just eliminate the potentially damaging effects of a criminal history record. An individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pay a mandatory fee in order to expunge and/or seal a criminal arrest or record.

 

Upon the filing of a Petition to Expunge and/or Seal, the following steps occur:

a.    A petition is filed with the Clerk’s Office on the fifth floor of the Criminal Court Administration Building at 2650 W. California Ave., Chicago, Illinois and it receives a case number.

b.    A copy of the petition along with a receipt for the fee is given to the petitioner.

c.    The Clerk’s office sends out three copies of the petition to; the Illinois State Police, the Arresting Agency and the Chicago Corporation Counsel.

d.    A court sheet and index card are created for the petition and it is logged into the Clerk’s book and data entered into the Clerk’s computer system.

e.    The case is then assigned to the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Court who hears these cases at 1:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in courtroom #101.

The George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building opens to the public at 8:30 a.m. on Monday through Friday and at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Parking for the public is available through metered street parking and at pay lots located on California Avenue just north of 26^th Street.
 

Reserved parking is available in the parking lot for jury members, attorneys, subpoenaed witnesses and their family members, members of the Chicago Police Department and staff of the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse. The parking lot and parking structure are located at the southeast corner of 26^th Street and California Boulevard.

Yes. The George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building is physically accessible and meets all of the requirements of the American Disabilities Act.

The public is not allowed to bring cameras into the courthouse. Cell phones are allowed in the building, but the public is encouraged to check the Criminal Division webpage for the individual courtroom they are visiting to learn if there are any specific instructions regarding use of cell phone or other electronic devices for that courtroom.

If you need information about your jury summons or about jury service, please call the Office of the Jury Administrator at (312)603-5879.

Central Bond Court is held every weekday at 12 noon and Saturday, Sunday and holidays at 12noon in Courtroom 100 at 2600 South California Avenue.

Contact the Bond Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County at (773)674-5849.

For information regarding a hearing on a specific defendant, contact the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County at (773)674-3140.

For information regarding a hearing on a specific defendant, contact the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County at (773)674-3140.

Call the Inmate Information line at (773)674-2859 to receive information about a defendant being held at the Cook County Department of Corrections

An individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pay a mandatory fee in order to receive a Certificate of Innocence, expunge and/or seal a criminal arrest or record. If you are interested in finding out about eligibility or in filling a petition, you should visit the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court on the fifth floor of the Criminal Court Administration Building at 2650 West California Avenue or call (773)674-3140.