Elizabeth Monkus -Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

About Elizabeth Monkus

Elizabeth Monkus (she/her) is the Senior Attorney & Project Director for Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts. Elizabeth came to Chicago Appleseed in 2010 to manage the Judicial Performance Commission Demonstration project. She currently focuses on domestic relations and judicial elections in her program work. View all posts by Elizabeth Monkus →

Two Years In: Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Remote Court Proceedings

The need to preserve court access during the pandemic moved hearings online. Remote court hearings are expected to continue – even as the courts return to in-person proceedings. While the transition has raised some concerns related to due process and accessibility, there appear to be some benefits t...

Support for SB 3635 to End Driver’s License Suspensions for Failures to Appear

UPDATE: HB 5588 has been assigned to committee for hearing on Wednesday, February 16. Please submit a witness slip in favor of the bill, as a "proponent," using this link before the hearing at 10:00 AM on Wednesday. On January 19, 2022, Illinois Senate Bill 3635 was filed by Sen. Celina Villa...

Call to Support the Driving for Opportunity Act

The bipartisan federal Driving for Opportunity Act of 2021 creates incentives to states to end debt-based drivers’ license suspensions. It is moving through Congressional committee mark-up this month and we are hopeful it will gain sufficient support to become law. Under the Licens...

Office of the Chief Judge Forms New Committee to Examine the Domestic Violence Division

In the last few months, there has been increased public focus on the Domestic Violence Division on the Cook County Circuit Court (“DV Court”), with a growing concern that the Division is not serving the needs of people—primarily women—seeking its protection. This summer, the Cook County Commissio...

VICTORY: Appellate Court Rules to Preserve the Sanctity of Survivor Privileges in Illinois

On Friday, July 10, Chicago Appleseed and Chicago Council of Lawyers submitted an amicus brief in the Illinois Appellate case of People v. Gomez-Ramirez (AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center, Bolingbrook, and Alexian Brothers-AHS Midwest Region Health Co., Contemnors-Appellants). Our pro bono partn...

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