News Room

The Circuit Court of Cook County Committee on Domestic Violence Court has developed a plan to improve court access to help
domestic violence victims, which will include an after-hours pilot program to start this September, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

The award-winning documentary, “Any Given Day,” which features the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Mental Health Court program, will air on PBS on Thursday, July 7, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. 

Public television’s WORLD Channel, which is carried by local PBS station WTTW-Channel 11, will air the documentary at 7 p.m. as part of the “America ReFramed” series. 

The Circuit Court of Cook County’s Restorative Justice Community Court in Englewood will hold its first graduation ceremony on Wednesday morning, honoring 29 graduates, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. The graduates successfully completed an intensive program focused on education, accountability, and job training designed to address nonviolent crime and prevent recidivism. 

Eight participants in the Circuit Court of Cook County’s mental health court program and two participants in the drug court program will graduate in a joint ceremony at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse this week, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. 

A recent claim that all those accused of violent crimes are “guilty” and should be in jail prior to trial is wrong on both the law and the facts, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said on Tuesday.

Judge Evans condemned the tragic wave of violent crime that has afflicted Chicago and other American cities so far this year. “Some of the victims have been successful young participants in my court programs and looked forward to full and meaningful lives before being shot and killed,” he said.

Six participants in the Circuit Court of Cook County’s nationally recognized drug court program will graduate in a ceremony at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Thursday, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. 

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered to enforce less than half as many evictions in recent months, compared to the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. County officials point to the decline as a reflection of the effectiveness of County legal aid efforts and rental assistance on behalf of both landlords and tenants.

Representatives of retail and other merchant associations expressed surprise and satisfaction at the high conviction rate for those charged with retail theft/smash and grab crimes in Cook County, following a meeting last month with Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

The Rehabilitative Alternative Probation and Women’s Rehabilitative Alternative Probation ((W)RAP) Drug Court Program has been named one of just 10 national mentor treatment courts by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the U.S. Department of Justice. The program will receive an award marking the distinction on May 19, 2022, at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building.

The mandate that all persons using Circuit Court of Cook County facilities must wear face coverings will remain in place until further notice, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

The decision was made in consultation with Dr. Rachel Rubin, M.D., senior medical officer and co-lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health. “She informed my staff that our local community transmission rate remains substantial, and strongly recommends we continue our mask mandate until levels reach moderate or low,” Judge Evans said.