Latest News
08.17.11
Judicial Independence, Impartiality and the Ethics of Recusal
Category: Blog
National Public Radio ran a long piece on judicial ethics and recusal on Morning Edition this morning. The piece discussed instances in the past few years where Justices' spouses, personal lives, or private speaking engagements caused criticism, particularly where Justices did not recuse themselves from cases where these connections created an apparent ideological conflict. You can read more about this on our blog.
08.05.11
What We Read, August 1-5
Category: Blog
What We Read, August 1-5, 2011 Criminal Justice Court Reform: Drug court: Why spending more will cost us less: Commentary in the San Jose Mercury News. In response to disproportionate numbers of nonwhite males unemployed and/or incarcerated, New York City unveiled a strategy involving, among other things, retraining probation officers to lower recidivism. Chicago Appleseed advocates for [...] Visit our blog to read more of this post.
08.05.11
Recusal Standards for Judges
Category: Blog
Finding ways to ensure the competence and integrity of the judicial system is a research and advocacy priority at Chicago Appleseed. We consider ways to advocate for improvement through our court-watching projects, the research and support we give to the Judicial Performance Commission, and in our regular reports on the functioning of Cook County’s courts. You can read more of this post over at our blog.
08.02.11
Save The Date: Annual Fundraising Luncheon Set for October 5, 2011
Category: E-Newsletters
In this issue of our e-newsletter, we focus on three of our program areas: Criminal Justice, Immigration Court Reform, and Financial Access and Fairness.
07.24.11
From Our Blog: Diversion Works
Category: Blog
That's the undisputed message in the most comprehensive study of diversionary drug courts ever completed. The Urban Institute, the Center for Court Innovation, and RTI International, conducted the study, "The Multi-Site Adult Drug Court Evaluation." Researchers evaluated 23 drug courts and 6 traditional court programs for comparison, over a period of 5 years... [To read the entire article, please visit our blog.]
07.15.11
What We Read, July 11-15
Category: Blog
What we read this week. Criminal Justice Court Reform: Governor Quinn has abandoned plans to merge the Juvenile Department of Corrections with the Department of Child and Family Services. Judicial Elections and Election Reform: The Brennan Center examines public funding of campaigns in light of the First Amendment. Immigration Court Reform SCOTUSblog argues in favor [...]
06.27.11
Chicago Council of Lawyers Voted 'Best Bar Association' by Chicago Reader
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL) - a public interest bar association dedicated to improving the quality of the legal system in Chicago - voted the 'Best Bar Association' in Chicago Reader's 'Best of Chicago 2011.' Chicago Appleseed and CCL often work together to further their mutual goals of reform, accountability, and justice. Congratulations to CCL!
06.27.11
A Call for Transparency: Illinois Judicial Vacancies Should Be Made Public
Category: Blog
This piece originally appeared at the Huffington Post. When an Illinois judge quits or retires before the end of her term, Article VI, Section 12 of the Illinois Constitution allows the Illinois Supreme Court to select her replacement. This process happens behind closed doors –the vacancy is not announced publicly and there is no public [...] Read more of this article over at our blog.
06.24.11
Tough Birthday for War on Drugs - Chicago Muckrakers
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
"The War on Drugs is now in its ripe middle age, turning 40 this month. But its birthday hasn't been an especially pleasant one." Micah Maidenberg, Chicago Reporter, reports a "few of the top-line findings from two recently published reviews of the drug war around the world and here in Illinois." In his report, he cites Chicago Appleseed's proposal to "re-frame how the county's judges, prosecutors and attorneys deal with non-violent drug defendants." Read more.
06.20.11
Cook County President Preckwinkle Declares "War on Drugs" a Failure
Category: Blog
At a noontime rally in the Chicago loop last Friday, Cook County President Preckwinkle condemned the increasingly unpopular “war on drugs.” She was the lone elected official openly criticizing the enforcement strategy, which dates back to Nixon’s presidency. You can read more of this post over at our blog.