Austin Segal -Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts |

About Austin Segal

Austin Segal (they/he) is Chicago Appleseed’s Research Manager and our Jill Dupont Memorial Fellow. They studied sociology, mathematical methods in the social sciences, and legal studies at Northwestern University and wrote an interdisciplinary thesis with original research on the implementation of queer-inclusive educational policies. They have been involved in organizations that promote constructive dialogue and community organizing, and are deeply invested in supporting those harmed by the criminal legal system. View all posts by Austin Segal →

Why do we need court-watchers in Illinois? The answer lies in our open records laws.

Community court-watching is exactly what it sounds like: members of the public taking time out of their days to watch court proceedings. But why? In Chicago Appleseed’s Court Observation & Education Program (COEP), we see court-watching not only as an informative experience for volunteers but...

NEW REPORT—What We Don’t Know About the Courts: The Far-Reaching Consequences of the Judicial Exemption to the FOIA in Illinois

In our newly published report, What We Don’t Know About the Courts: The Far-Reaching Consequences of the Judicial Exemption to the FOIA in Illinois, Chicago Appleseed explains the judicial exemption from Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and this exemption’s broad consequences for data tra...

ICYMI: Recap of “Who’s Your Jailer?” Event—December 10, 2025

On Wednesday evening, Naomi and I participated in a community teach-in, "Who's Your Jailer?," hosted by the Cook County Coalition for Prosecutor Accountability (C3PA), where we discussed Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s policies and their consequences. The panel also featured publ...

Cook County State’s Attorney Expands Felony Review Bypass Program Citywide

Since January, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) has been piloting a policy that limits due process rights for people accused of unlicensed gun possession. On Friday, they announced that they will be expanding this policy from two police districts to the entire city, handing off...

VICTORY: The FAIR Act Passes, Office of State Public Defender Will Be Established

On May 31, 2025, the Funded Advocacy & Independent Representation (FAIR) Act was passed by both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly. The FAIR Act requires Illinois to establish an Office of the State Public Defender; Illinois will join 45 states in our nation in creating a public oversight...

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