Chief Judge Timothy Evans’s order will leave open the possibility that normal court operations could resume earlier, once conditions are in place to do so safely.
Cook County court partial shutdown extended to July 6
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Court watchers fill holes in bond data during COVID jail outbreak
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The pandemic has highlighted the lack of data about bond court. Several stakeholders are trying to fill in the gap.
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State’s Attorney has contested vast majority of bond motions since COVID-19
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Public Defender Amy Campanelli has tried to get more than 3,000 detainees released from the jail since the coronavirus outbreak began in March. State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office has contested more than 2,500 of them.
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Stateville prison reopens decrepit ‘F-House’ to hold inmates with COVID-19
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About 70 men are being quarantined in Stateville prison’s notorious roundhouse, which was closed after being criticized for its poor conditions and “inhumane” design.
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Top juvenile court judge still blocking motions despite new emergency order
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Presiding Judge Michael Toomin continues to vet and reject detention review motions from juveniles, despite an order from the chief judge that all detention reviews be heard.
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Hundreds of Illinois prisoners released as COVID-19 spreads, but few elderly see reprieve
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The Illinois Department of Corrections has begun utilizing a once controversial tool to release hundreds of inmates using sentencing credits. But the releases have not been uniform across the state.
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Judge blocks key legal protection for detained youth
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Presiding Judge Michael Toomin has said youth detention reviews cannot be filed if they mention a law that juveniles cannot be held more than 30 days pre-trial. Chief Judge Timothy Evans is clarifying his order to say they can.
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COVID-19 brings new challenges for Muslim inmates during Ramadan
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Restrictions related to the COVID-19 outbreak have made observing Ramadan more difficult for Muslims in prisons and jails.
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Challenges arise as the courtroom goes virtual
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In response to the coronavirus, the Cook County Circuit Court has moved most hearings online. The shift has meant technical difficulties and challenges for public access, especially in felony bond court.
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Federal Court intervenes as the humanitarian crisis in Cook County Jail grows
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The federal judge’s order didn’t go as far as some civil rights advocates had hoped. The ongoing work of pushing for structural change to the criminal justice system must continue.