Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

CPD Barriers to Quality Stationhouse Representation

On Tuesday, June 23, Public Defender Amy Campanelli held a press conference to announce the filing of a lawsuit demanding the Chicago Police Department (CPD) abide by state law to provide a phone - and phone number for her stationhouse unit - to all arrested people within one-hour of detainment.&nbs...

Chicago Council of Lawyers: Statement Condemning the Conduct of Chicago’s Police during Protests

Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers are in a collaboration for justice, dedicated to improving accountability, accessibility, and equity in the courts of Cook County and Illinois. We stand with the Council in solidarity with those on the front lines in defense of Black lives:...

License to Work Act has already affected 75,000 drivers (and counting)

Since the passage of the License to Work Act earlier this year, the Transit Table has been preparing for its July 1 effective date, when people who have had their driver’s licenses suspended for failure to pay fines or other non-moving violation fees can have their licenses reinstated. In the meanti...

Cook County State’s Attorney Has Not Agreed to Release in Approximately 80% of Cases during COVID-19 Pandemic

UPDATE: On July 1, 2020, at the request of the States Attorney's Office, this post was updated to include the results of their analysis of a selection of court call transcripts from March 19-April 8. Please see addendum at the end of this post for more information. Since the first case o...

We Can Do More to Protect Individuals, Workers, and Communities In and Around Illinois Prisons

Illinois must ensure that the rights and wellbeing of individuals living and working in prisons and the surrounding communities are protected. While Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) have taken some essential steps toward decarceration and transparency in detention...