06.02.10 Progress through partnership
CCL Commends Chief Judge Evans on Actions to Address Judges' Work Schedules
Two recent Fox News Chicago and Better Government Association stories questioned why so many courtrooms in Cook County are routinely empty after 2:30 p.m. The stories identified four judges who reporters allegedly saw leaving the courthouse on more than one occasion during the day or who were allegedly at their residences during work hours.
While we are not commenting on the fairness or accuracy of these stories, they raise legitimate concerns that must be addressed. These concerns, however, should be kept in perspective. We believe that most Cook County judges work hard during "normal work hours" and beyond those hours when necessary to complete their duties at other times. The fact that a courtroom is empty does not mean that a judge is not in the courthouse and working. To the contrary, when not on the bench, judges spend time in chambers conducting mediations and pre-trial conferences, drafting orders and reviewing motions, conducting legal research, preparing for the next day's court call, and otherwise fulfilling their duties to ensure the efficient administration of justice.
That being said, citizens, litigants and the legal profession deserve to have legitimate concerns raised by these stories addressed and we commend Chief Judge Evans for swiftly doing so. He has ordered re-assignment and mentoring for the four judges named in the news stories and has appointed two new supervising judges to oversee the Criminal Branch Courts of the First Municipal District where three of the four judges had been serving. These actions reflect the need for close supervision of all facets of the sprawling Cook County court system.
To the extent that there are judges with criminal court calls whose assignments leave them with available time in the afternoon, we suggest that their afternoons be used for a Probation Call where adult non-violent offenders on probation and probation officers could report to the judge about the progress these offenders are making on such things as treatment programs, training courses, or completing their general education.
Research conducted by Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers concluded that this restorative justice approach for both adult and juvenile nonviolent offenders could substantially improve the effectiveness of probation with accompanying benefits to offenders (i.e., a better chance at a productive life) and the public (i.e., less recidivism and a smaller jail population). We urge the judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County to consider such a Probation Call.
Peter A. Steinmeyer, President
Malcolm C. Rich, Executive Director
Chicago Council of Lawyers
MCLE Forum on Police Accountability
Monday, June 28
The Chicago Council of Lawyers and Chicago Appleseed, in conjunction with the American Constitution Society (Chicago chapter), are pleased to announce the upcoming "Forum on Police Accountability."
DATE: Monday June 28, 2010
TIME: 12-1:30pm
PLACE: Sidley Austin LLP, 1 South Dearborn, Chicago
Speakers:
Ilana B.R. Rosenzweig, Chief Administrator of the Chicago Independent Police Review Authority
Peter Brust, Deputy Superintendent, Chicago Police Department
MCLE credit will be provided by Sidley Austin LLP. Attendees are welcome to bring their own sack lunch.
Please RSVP to Lisa Stoller at lstoller@chicagocouncil.org by Thursday, June 24.
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