PROGRAM COMMITTEES: COLLABORATION FOR JUSTICE
Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers work together with experts in the legal field, students, and volunteers to pursue research and advocacy in several working committees. Members assist in identifying systemic issues, considering ways to use national and local research in developing proposed solutions, preparing policy and editorial statements, and implementing solutions.
To become involved with a committee, please fill out this form or email us.
This page is currently being updated, thank you for your patience. We will have complete information on the committees soon.
Access to Justice
The Access to Justice Committees work to identify ineffective, inefficient, and unfair court management policies and procedures; recommend improvements; and advocate for their implementation.
Chair: Mark Dupont
- Developing a high school and college curriculum to increase the supply of language interpreters in the courts for both spoken and signed languages.
- Analyzing courtroom observations to identify improper failure by judges to appoint public defenders to indigent defendants.
Conducting interviews to determine next steps for improving Building Court, including developing an ongoing court-watching program to improve transparency and accountability.
- Chair: Meike McCaw
- Working with the ACLU to conduct interviews and research to propose changes in our abuse and neglect courtrooms to support families staying together.
Criminal Justice Advisory Committee
Co-Chairs: Alexandra Block and Jonathan Pilsner
The Criminal Justice Advisory Committee uses research, advocacy, legislative proposals, technical assistance, and project management to improve all areas of our criminal justice system—with a specific focus on decarceration and racial equity. CJAC’s work focuses on decriminalizing poverty by bringing the highest standards of justice to Cook County’s criminal courts.
- Reimagining Misdemeanor Courts— Looking for interviewers and data analysts to develop proposals for deflection and mentoring programs aimed at keeping people out of the criminal legal system.
- Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice— For years, we’ve worked with the Coalition to End Money Bond and Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, which we helped found, to support state legislation, local policy changes, and supreme court rule-making that will uphold the Pretrial Fairness Act and continue decarceral reform efforts.
Legislative Tracking— Advocating for specific policy changes at the local and state level to ensure critical reforms are not only passed but also fully implemented and protected
Civil Liberties & Police Accountability
Co-Chairs: David Melton & Carl Royal
The Civil Liberties Committee meets monthly to discuss civil liberties issues that are both local and national in scope—including police accountability in Chicago.
The Civil Liberties Committee meets on the second Friday of every month at 12:00pm (CST).
- Police Accountability— Focused on the transparency, trustworthiness, and oversight of the Chicago Police Department. We have done independent research to advise on policies, have testified at public hearings, and continually work in collaboration with community stakeholders to monitor the Federal Consent Decree and other CPD reform efforts.
- Civil Asset Forfeiture— Researching the impacts of civil asset forfeiture and working towards ending this extractive practice as a leading member of the End Policing for Profit coalition.