News Room

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.