Advocates say the state’s name-change law disproportionately affects trans people. But recent efforts to change the law have hit roadblocks.
Coronavirus
‘Like being in hell’: Detainees offer window into Cook County Jail’s Covid-19 surge
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As the number of Covid-19 cases at the Cook County Jail hit a record high in January, people detained there accused the jail of inadequate testing and quarantine measures, poor social distancing, and unsanitary conditions.
Judicial Conduct
Cook County Judge Raúl Vega is retiring under a cloud of allegations
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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.
News
Prosecutors said her sexual orientation was motive to kill. Now, she’s asking Illinois’ governor for clemency.
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Bernina Mata’s case sheds light on the ‘abuse-to-prison pipeline’ and the infrequency of clemency approvals.
Police and Prosecutors
Illinois changed its controversial ‘felony murder rule.’ Here’s who the reform left behind.
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Illinois recently made changes to narrow the scope of the law, which disproportionately impacts young people of color and women. But advocates say the reforms don’t go far enough. And an Injustice Watch analysis shows that at least dozens of people are locked in state prisons on murder charges that likely wouldn’t have been filed if the crime happened today.
Judicial Conduct
Cook County judge Vazquez’s heavy use of sobriety monitor highlights oversight gaps
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Billed as a humane punishment for drunk driving, SCRAM comes at a heavy cost for defendants. One judge in Maywood uses it often, and without oversight.