News Room

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)

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

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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 Daily Herald examines the new Pretrial Fairness Act Dashboard available on www.cookcountycourt.org. Read it here:

How’s cashless bail going? Here’s what the data says (dailyherald.com)

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