Police and Prosecutors
Exonerated man files $100M lawsuit against Chicago and police detectives
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While still in prison fighting another murder conviction, James Allen is seeking compensation for his wrongful imprisonment for a 1984 killing.
Judicial Elections
Cook County judge removed by voters in 2020 seeks return to the bench
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Jackie Portman-Brown was only the second sitting Cook County judge in 30 years to lose her seat. Can she become the first to be reelected?
Judicial Elections
Elected judges are rarely voted out of office. Here’s why.
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Injustice Watch and WBEZ’s Curious City podcast teamed up to explain why it’s so rare for a Cook County judge to be voted out of office.
2022 judicial primary
Why are so few people running for Cook County judge?
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Only 64 candidates filed to run for Cook County circuit court judge this year — a record low. There were nearly twice as many judicial hopefuls in the last election.
Police and Prosecutors
Man walks out of prison 28 years early — with the help of a prosecutor
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Corzell Cole went away for “a first-degree murder that never occurred,” argued Will County’s prosecutor in a rare motion, citing a new Illinois law allowing prosecutors to push for resentencing in “the interests of justice.”
The Circuit
Data highlights leniency of ex-officer Jason Van Dyke’s murder sentence
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Anger about Van Dyke’s release and renewed scrutiny of Judge Vincent Gaughan’s sentencing in his case comes as the judge faces a retention election this fall.
Judicial Elections
Everything you need to know about Cook County judicial elections
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Who can run? Why are judicial elections partisan? How do I pick a judge who shares my values? Injustice Watch and WBEZ’s Curious City are teaming up to answer your questions about judicial elections.
Judicial Conduct
Proposed judicial ethics code is silent on courthouse romances
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The code of conduct for judges may get a long-overdue update, but critics say the revision should have banned relationships between judges and their subordinates.
News
Applications open for 10 new Cook County associate judges
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Associate judges are picked by the elected circuit judges in a closed-door process that some say privileges political insiders.
Judicial Elections
Illinois legislature creates five new judicial subcircuits in Cook County to further diversify the bench
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Bill rushed through state legislature last week promises years of hyperlocal judicial races, which could make it easier to become a judge but might come at a cost to the Cook County Democratic Party.