Domestic Violence
Cook County has a dedicated domestic violence courthouse, but cases related to domestic violence and abuse are heard every day in divisions across the county, including criminal, civil, and child protection. We write about how the court system affects survivors of domestic violence and alleged abusers.
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The former top judge of Cook County’s domestic violence court, Vega will retire with a lifetime pension, despite accusations from women in his courtroom that he mistreated them.
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Chicago advocates press chief judge on domestic violence court access, treatment of survivors
Survivors of gender-based violence face barriers to court access that have worsened amid the Covid-19 pandemic, advocates and attorneys say. Chief Judge Tim Evans has pledged to enact changes in response to the criticism.
If Illinois defendants never told jury of their own abuse, now a second chance
Illinois legislature passed an amendment in 2016 giving victims of domestic violence the chance to present the abuse as a basis for mitigating sentences for crimes they committed. After initial resistance by Cook County prosecutors, that office is now taking an expansive interpretation of whether victims of abuse that was relevant to their crimes can win relief.