News Room

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans led off tonight's episode of Chicago Tonight, discussing the preparations the Court and our partners have made to ensure everyone's rights are protected during a safe Democratic National Convention. See it here:

Chicago Tonight | Cook County Courts Prep for Possibility of Mass Arrests at DNC | Season 2024 | WTTW

Domestic Violence Division Presiding Judge Judith Rice has been honored with the prestigious Judith S. Kaye Award for Judicial Excellence. The American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence presents this award to judicial officers who show exemplary leadership developing courtroom responses to domestic and sexual violence issues.

The Cook County Circuit Court’s Fifth Municipal District in Bridgeview is hosting a joint Problem-Solving Court ceremony on Monday, August 5 for seven graduates from the drug, mental health and veterans treatment courts.

At the request of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the City of Chicago, the Circuit Court of Cook County has made extensive preparations to handle an increased number of court proceedings in the event of multiple arrests during the period surrounding the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which is being held in Chicago August 19-22, said Chief Judge Timothy C.

CBS 2 Chicago covered the grand opening of the new Restorative Justice Community Court in Sauk Village.

Restorative justice court program expands to Chicago's south suburbs - CBS Chicago (cbsnews.com)

Cook County Chief Circuit Judge Timothy Evans pledged Monday to more than double the county's so-called second-chance courts this year, praising their results so far in cutting recidivism by diverting young-offender prosecutions in favor of personal rehabilitation.

The Chicago Tribune covered the opening of the first restorative justice community court in the south suburbs at Sauk Village.

Cook County opens restorative justice court in Sauk Village (chicagotribune.com)

ABC covered the recent opening of Sauk Village's Restorative Justice Community Court, the first restorative justice court in the suburbs.

1st suburban Cook County Restorative Justice Court opens in Sauk Village, following Chicago's lead; more expected - ABC7 Chicago

The Circuit Court of Cook County, following up on the recent successes of the Restorative Justice Community Courts in North Lawndale, Avondale and Englewood, is poised to open its newest location in south suburban Sauk Village.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans will host a grand opening celebration of the new court at 11 a.m. Monday, July 15 at the Sauk Village Community Center, 2700 Kalvelage Dr. in Sauk Village. The celebration is open to the community and media.

Block Club Chicago covered the most recent Englewood Restorative Justice Community Court graduation ceremony, where 64 program graduates were recognized.

Englewood Restorative Justice Community Court Graduates Largest Class In 4 Years (blockclubchicago.org)

It's graduation day in Englewood for a group of people getting a second chance because they were convicted of felonies, but their records are about to be cleared. Englewood's Restorative Justice Community Court graduates 64 participants.

Graduation day for Restorative Justice Community Court Program - CBS Chicago (cbsnews.com)

Following a tough couple of years which included the loss of his infant son and getting in trouble with the law, 24-year-old Byron Upton sees his graduation from the Englewood Restorative Justice Community Court as a “reset” for his life.

“I had to go through a lot of distancing from the negativity in my life,” said Upton, who will be one of 64 graduates honored at a Wednesday ceremony for the South Side program. “Before the court began, I was going through something. I took the reset God gave me.”

Below is a statement from Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans regarding the death of Commissioner Deer:

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. The courts, which hear felony cases at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, help people with low-level criminal offenses overcome drug problems and avoid future problems with the law.

Thousands of people who come into the Circuit Court without a lawyer every month now have a new central place within the Daley Center to get guidance on navigating the system. The Circuit Court of Cook County’s Resource Center for People Without Lawyers has a new home on the concourse level of the

Cook County acting presiding judges were elevated on Wednesday to the position of presiding judge in their respective divisions, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced. 

The presiding judges, promoted by Judge Evans, are the Hon. Donna L. Cooper of the Juvenile Division, the Hon. Sophia H. Hall of the Chancery Division, the Hon. Mary C. Marubio of the Pretrial Division, the Hon. Judith C. Rice of the Domestic Violence Division and the Hon. Regina Scannicchio of the Domestic Relations Division. 

Cook County's No-Cash Bail System Shows Early Promise as Illinois (hoodline.com)

Follow the court on X @CookCntyCourt

Early signs of success more than 6 months after cash bail ended in Illinois - Chicago Sun-Times (suntimes.com)

Follow the court on X @CookCntyCourt

May is National Treatment Court Month, recognizing courts around the country which address the root causes of criminal behavior committed by those suffering from mental illness and drug abuse, as well as military veterans who may be having difficulties associated with readjusting to civilian life.

6 months after Illinois ended cash bail, jail populations are down (chicagotribune.com)

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The Circuit Court of Cook County’s recently redesigned website now features weekly statistics on court attendance and the rates at which defendants avoid new charges while on pretrial release.

The Circuit Court of Cook County has launched a renovated, easier-to-navigate website at cookcountycourt.org.

The redesigned website replaces a previous version that was more than 12 years old and regularly viewed by more than 1 million users annually.

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and the court’s Nominating Committee today announced the names of the six candidates who will be on the ballot for circuit judges to vote to fill three associate judge vacancies.

“I am pleased to submit the names of these candidates for consideration to join the bench of the Circuit Court of Cook County,” Chief Judge Evans said. “I am grateful for the hard work of the Nominating Committee in putting together this list of capable and talented candidates. The candidates received positive ratings from all bar associations.

The Circuit Court of Cook County is the recipient of a $450,000 federal grant to assist in creating alternatives to youth detention. The grant, funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), will help with the construction and operation of assessment centers and “Community Centers of Care.”

On Jan. 9, 2024, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC), the agency with oversight over state courts and detention centers, announced that the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) has met or exceeded all state requirements for juvenile safety and well-being. 

Due to the extremely cold weather predicted for Tuesday, January 16 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.

Due to a weather-related power outage which has closed the Fifth Municipal District courthouse in Bridgeview on Friday, all Fifth District misdemeanor, civil, traffic, and felony cases will receive other dates, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Fifth Municipal District Presiding Judge Kerry M. Kennedy.

For misdemeanor and traffic cases, the Circuit Court Clerk will notify defendants of their next court dates, said Judge Kennedy.

All civil cases will be continued until Tuesday, Jan. 16, unless already continued.

Due to predictions of significant snowfall on Friday, particularly in northwest suburban Cook County, all defendants and witnesses who have hearings in the Third Municipal District can use video conference (Zoom) to attend proceedings, rather than coming to the Rolling Meadows courthouse in person, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Third Municipal District Presiding Judge Jill Cerone-Marisie.

The Skokie Mental Health Court, which was featured in an award-winning documentary film, will graduate four participants on Thursday, December 14, at a special ceremony, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

This will be the final graduation ceremony for the Mental Health Court’s presiding judge, the Hon. Lauren Edidin, who has presided over the court for 12 years and is retiring. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in Room 201 at the Second Municipal District Courthouse, 5600 Old Orchard Road, in Skokie.

Nine participants in the (W)RAP drug court program will graduate on Thursday, November 30, at a special ceremony at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in Courtroom 402, 2600 S. California Ave., in Chicago. The media is welcome to attend, and can also watch by Zoom (Meeting ID: 851 0615 4375, Passcode: 402402). All graduates will appear in person.