Raines-Welch, who is headed for the bench after a win in last month’s primary election, has spent a decade as a municipal attorney for several south suburban municipalities.
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.
Illinois is one of just seven states with no statewide oversight of public defenders. A new bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly would create a task force to further study public defender caseloads and quality of representation.
Injustice Watch y Borderless Magazine necesitan tú ayuda para investigar las consecuencias que enfrentan los indocumentados después de una condena penal.
Injustice Watch and Borderless Magazine need your help to investigate the consequences noncitizens face after a criminal conviction.
With nearly all the votes counted, Judge Jackie Portman-Brown did not get enough “yes” votes to stay on the bench as of Tuesday. Another judge is holding on to his seat by 282 votes.
An Injustice Watch investigation identified 14 cases of defendants of color convicted on gun charges based on testimony or video, though no gun was found. The convictions stand in contrast to what happened when Cook County associate Judge Joseph Claps was acquitted after dropping what deputies called a gun on the floor of the courthouse lobby.
Recent DNA testing supports the contention of inmates Curtis Croft and Demetrius Henderson that they have spent years in prison for a rape and murder they did not commit, a newly-filed petition states.
Cook County’s Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans filed suit against the Cook County Board Thursday, contending the budget cuts would require laying off 161 court employees and put in jeopardy recent efforts to revamp the county’s bail system.
After all but giving up hope of release by the agency tasked with considering their parole, two inmates are searching for other ways out of prison.