Judicial Elections, Ethics Rules and the Ongoing Impact of Campaign Financing

The Tennessee Rules for judicial election campaign conduct are considered an excellent model for Supreme Court rules in jurisdictions that elect judges. In early December, the Tennessee Supreme Court amended the provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct regarding judges and judicial candidates’ ele...

Cook County Domestic Relations Court Changes

Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice has been working with a task force for the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division, Grace Dickler, for several years to improve the court. The work has been very rewarding and plans for a pilot courtroom based upon our work have been approved for 2016. I...

Chicago Council of Lawyers’ Statement on the Chicago Police Department

Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice has been a part of the Chicago social justice community for over 40 years. We are proud of the relationships we have built with many reform-minded members of our courts and County government. Like the rest of the community, we are disturbed by the systemic failures...

Giving Tuesday

It's Giving Tuesday. We hope you'll participate with a contribution to the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice! Your donation supports the Collaboration for Justice—the joint research and advocacy effort of Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers—dedicated to promoting fair and effectiv...

Drug Field-Testing Pilot Study Committee meeting minutes

The first meeting of the HB356 Drug Field Testing Pilot Study Committee met on November 13, 2015. The purpose of the pilot program is to being field testing of alleged drug samples shortly after arrest so that defendant may move to preliminary hearing more quickly than had otherwise been occurring a...