News Room

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Fourth Municipal District Presiding Judge Edmund Ponce de Leon announced the court will convene a day-long symposium on family violence on Tuesday, October 12, 2004, at the Hillside Holiday Inn and Conference Center, 4400 Frontage Road, Hillside, Illinois. Titled "The Many Faces of Domestic Violence," the symposium will feature national and local experts who will speak about domestic violence and its related issues, teen dating violence, child abuse and elder abuse.

More than 250 south suburban high school students gathered at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights for a multi-faceted presentation on the tragic consequences they could face as a result of aggressive driving habits or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The presentation was sponsored by the Circuit Court of Cook County, the South Suburban Bar Association, and Prairie State College.

Results of an investigation conducted by Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans have determined that the court’s Adult Probation Department acted properly in withdrawing probation officers from fieldwork duty at various times within the last month due to safety concerns. However department officials failed in their responsibilities to immediately notify Chief Judge Evans of their decision, and to take immediate action to return the full complement of officers to the street as soon as possible.

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced the Puerto Rican Heritage Day Courthouse Tour will take place on Thursday, June 10, 2004, in the Richard J. Daley Center at 50 West Washington Street in Chicago. Co-sponsoring the tour is the Puerto Rican Bar Association.

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced that he has expanded participation in the In-Court Lawyer Referral Program in two of the court’s suburban districts to increase the number and diversity of attorneys available to offer defendants immediate representation in court.

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced that the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Criminal Division will launch a Mental Health Court pilot program in which a team comprising a judge, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers and social service agencies oversee mentally ill probationers to ensure compliance with treatment and monitor progress toward improved mental health.

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced that pro se litigants in the Chancery Division can receive free assistance with filling out court forms and understanding court procedures through the court’s new Chancery Division Advice Desk opening Wednesday, February 18, 2004, in the Richard J. Daley Center. The new program will also screen litigants to determine if they qualify for the appointment of counsel through the Chicago Bar Association’s Access to Justice Program.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced the Circuit Court of Cook County Annual Women’s History Month Courthouse Tour of the Richard J. Daley Center at 50 W. Washington Street will take place on Thursday, March 11, 2004. Co-sponsoring the tour is the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today issued an order stating that in light of recent action taken by the Illinois Supreme Court, Associate Judge Adam D. Bourgeois, Jr. is not eligible for the office of associate judge for two (2) months, effective January 20, 2004.

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Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced that to accommodate the large number of people who usually attend, the Annual Circuit Court of Cook County Black History Month Courthouse Tours of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, will be held again this year on nine (9) days. Tours will be offered daily beginning on Tuesday, February 17, 2004, through Friday, February 20, 2004, and the following entire week from Monday, February 24, 2004, through Friday, February 28, 2004.