Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

Elizabeth Monkus reflects on time with Chicago Appleseed

After 15 incredible years of dedication to Chicago Appleseed, we are saying goodbye to our beloved Elizabeth Monkus, Senior Attorney & Project Director, as she begins her retirement. Since Elizabeth joined the organization, she has shown amazing tenacity in her advocacy towards building a more f...

NEW BRIEF — Our Hands Are Tied: Barriers to Full Participation in Court for Deaf People in Cook County

In our newly published brief, Our Hands Are Tied: Barriers to Full Participation in Court for Deaf People in Cook County, Chicago Appleseed explores the common experiences of deaf people navigating the legal system and proposes how we can create policies that ensure deaf people have the ability to f...

ICYMI — Chicago Appleseed Hosted a Press Conference Last Week to Announce Release of New Report

A week ago, Chicago Appleseed hosted a press conference to announce the release of our new report: 500 Days Forward, 10 Years Back: An Evaluation of Eileen O'Neill Burke's First 500 Days as Cook County State's Attorney. The report explains the policies put in place by the Burke administration in its...

NEW REPORT — 500 Days Forward, 10 Years Back: An Evaluation of Eileen O’Neill Burke’s First 500 Days as Cook County State’s Attorney

Chicago Appleseed has been following, researching, and reporting on the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) for over a decade. In our new report, 500 Days Later…10 Years Back: An Evaluation of Eileen O’Neill Burke’s First 500 Days as Cook County State’s Attorney, we present a comprehensive...

Introducing Rachel Lyons as Chicago Appleseed’s New Executive Director

Rachel Lyons (she/her), Executive Director The Board of Directors of Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts is excited to introduce Rachel Lyons as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective today, Monday, April 13, 2026. Rachel will take over from immediate past co-executive director...