2025 News Archive

A power outage, which closed the Sixth Municipal District courthouse in Markham on Tuesday morning, has caused cases scheduled to be heard at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and where parties were not able to be in court to be rescheduled, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Sixth Municipal District Presiding Judge Tommy Brewer.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans spoke at a SEED Court graduation August 5 at the Criminal Courthouse.

SEED (Supporting Education and Employment Development) is a deferred prosecution program that serves young adults, aged 18-26, charged with gun offenses or with selling or intending to sell illegal drugs. Upon successful completion of the program, defendants are eligible to have their court and arrest records expunged.

The success of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Restorative Justice Community Courts (RJCC) for young adults is drawing attention from other states – including Illinois’ neighbor to the north.

Representatives from Dane County, including the Hon. Nia Trammell of the Dane County Circuit Court, observed the Avondale Restorative Justice Community Court on Friday to learn how it operates. Dane County, the second most-populous county in Wisconsin, intends to unveil a similar program this fall for young people ages 17-35.

Two adult drug treatment courts operating in the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Criminal Division have been awarded Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) funding, totaling more than $1 million for the upcoming state fiscal year. These courts serve high-risk/high-need adults charged with a non-violent drug, theft, or property related felony offenses who are diagnosed with a severe substance use disorder by providing treatment and support to reduce recidivism.

The Circuit Court of Cook County Restorative Justice Community Court program has been recognized with a 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The award honors innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents. 

The Restorative Justice Community Court was established by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans in 2017. Since that time, the courts have assisted more than 600 young adults, ages 18 -26, charged with non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes, reintegrate into their communities.

During a recent visit to the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, staff gave the Hon. Michael Hood a tour of the organization’s Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) which, when deployed, provides health care to unhoused veterans by mental health clinicians, social workers and other health providers.

Judge Hood, who presides over the Veterans Treatment Courts in Skokie, said he immediately saw a benefit to having the MMU visit the Skokie Courthouse in the Second Municipal District.

CBS 2 Chicago's Shardaa Gray's report on the June 25, 2025 graduation of the Englewood Restorative Justice Community Court.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/englewood-restorative-justice-community-court-graduation-2025/

WGN's Bronagh Tumulty highlights the June 25, 2025 graduation of 22 participants in the Englewood Restorative Justice Community Court.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/englewood-graduates-celebrate-fresh-starts-through-restorative-justice-program/

When Xavier Smith was arrested for driving a vehicle he alleges he didn’t know was stolen, it was just the latest life-altering event to occur to the 26-year-old. Despite a childhood spent in foster care and being an unhoused adult who recently experienced the violent shooting death of his infant daughter and her mother, he vows this most recent setback has actually put him on the right track for the first time.

It’s graduation season, and many Chicago-area families are celebrating their children’s graduation from colleges and universities. Unfortunately, some young people involved in the criminal justice system have never considered college for themselves and see a limited future.