News Room

Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today praised Gov. J.B. Pritzker for signing into law a criminal justice reform measure that will eliminate cash bail, because it is consistent with the U.S. Constitution’s presumption of innocence before trial.

“It took courage for Gov. Pritzker to sign this legislation, and it was absolutely the right thing to do,” Judge Evans said. “Money should not determine who should be released on pretrial. The law is that there is a presumption of innocence when someone is charged.”

To limit the number of people traveling to and from court due to adverse weather conditions for our area, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced that the Circuit Court of Cook County will be open but for videoconference and teleconference proceedings only on Tuesday, February 16. Please do not come to court facilities in person.

All court proceedings will be conducted by videoconference or teleconference. No in-person hearings will be held, so litigants should not come to court facilities. Traffic court proceedings also will be entirely held by videoconference or teleconference.

To limit the number of people traveling to and from court due to adverse weather conditions for our area, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today that the Circuit Court of Cook County will be open for videoconference and teleconference proceedings only on Tuesday, February 16. Please do not come to court facilities in person.

Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans expressed approval and support today for a newly-passed criminal justice bill that will eliminate cash bail, because it is consistent with the U.S. Constitution’s presumption of innocence before trial.  

“We have been supporting the end of money bail for a long time,” Judge Evans said. “Money was never a good gauge as to who should be released on pretrial. The law is that there is a presumption of innocence when someone is charged.” 

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced the appointments of three new acting presiding judges to head the Criminal, County and Traffic Divisions. 

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today posted a notice for ten vacancies for the office of associate judge of the Cook County Circuit Court.

Most courthouses in Cook County are now equipped with “Zoom Rooms,” with computers that allow litigants to safely monitor court proceedings, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans said on Friday.

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today appointed Honorable Robert Balanoff to serve as the Acting Presiding Judge of the court’s Child Protection Division. The appointment is effective Monday, December 7.

Judge Balanoff became a circuit judge in 2004, after 22 years in private practice. He has served in Child Protection since 2005. 

Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases across the state, Chief Judge Timothy C.

Since 2017, more than a hundred other young North Lawndale men and women facing nonviolent felony or misdemeanor charges have encountered a wholly different brand of justice at the North Lawndale Restorative Justice Community Court, writes the Chicago Tribune editorial board. The Restorative Justice courts demonstrate the power of a second chance.

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A new Loyola University study finds that a bail reform order issued by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans in 2017 has saved Cook County residents from having to post more than $31 million in bail in just one six-month period and kept hundreds out of jail, while not contributing to an increase in crime. 

The following is a statement from Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans regarding appellate court decisions:

Kelly Gallivan-Ilarraza, a specialist in the field of problem-solving alternatives in criminal court cases, will be the new Specialty Court Coordinator starting October 1, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced on Thursday. 

“As director of specialty courts, Kelly Gallivan-Ilarraza will be responsible for integrating these courts throughout the system by expanding existing courts and developing new ones,” said Judge Evans. “She also will help in establishing protocols, training and evaluation to ensure their continued success.” 

South Side aldermen, state and federal lawmakers, judges and community representatives joined Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans on Wednesday to cut the ribbon for the new Restorative Justice Community Court in Englewood. 

The following is a statement from Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans: 

“At this time, as the general public, quite appropriately, prepares for the November 3 election by reviewing the qualifications and performance of many of our judges, it is important to remember that people who take the oath to be a Cook County Circuit Court judge are ethically bound to be independent in their rulings, free from fear or favor.

The Circuit Court of Cook County is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 16, to launch its new Restorative Justice Community Court in the Englewood neighborhood, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today. 

This new court, the first on the city’s South Side, follows the success of the state’s first Restorative Justice Community Court in the North Lawndale neighborhood, launched in 2017. Both the Englewood court and a new Avondale community court open this week.

All Cook County courts are expected to be open on Tuesday, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans said on Monday afternoon. 

On Monday morning, Judge Evans ordered the closing of all courts, with the exception of bond courts, in the wake of civil unrest that led to the closing of roads downtown and limits on public transportation. 

Nearly all court proceedings are being conducted via Zoom. Litigants are advised to check with their attorneys, or with the clerk of the court, before coming to a courthouse. 

Due to restricted access to Chicago’s downtown area resulting from public safety activities and limits on public transportation, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans on Monday postponed a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Restorative Justice Community Court in Englewood. 

The ceremony had been scheduled for 11 a.m. this morning at the Salvation Army’s Adele and Robert Stern Red Shield Center, 845 West 69th Street. 

Information on a future date for the ceremony will be provided when available.  

Due to restricted access to Chicago’s downtown area resulting from public safety activities and limits on public transportation, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans on Monday ordered the closing of all courts, with the exception of bond courts. 

Bond courts at the Leighton Criminal Court House, the Domestic Violence Courthouse at 555 West Harrison Street, the Juvenile Justice Division and all six Municipal Districts will remain open. 

The Circuit Court of Cook County is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, August 10 to launch its new Restorative Justice Community Court in the Englewood neighborhood, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today.  

This new court, the first on the city’s South Side, follows the success of the state’s first Restorative Justice Community Court in the North Lawndale neighborhood, launched in 2017. Both the Englewood court and a new Avondale community court will open on September 14. 

Northwest Side public officials, judges and community representatives joined Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans on Monday to cut the ribbon for a new Restorative Justice Community Court in Avondale. 

The Circuit Court of Cook County is set to launch its latest effort to address nonviolent crime and prevent recidivism with the opening of new Restorative Justice Community Courts in Chicago’s Avondale and Englewood neighborhoods, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today.

These new neighborhood courts follow the success of the state’s first Restorative Justice Community Court in the North Lawndale neighborhood, launched in 2017. Both the Avondale and Englewood community courts will open on September 14.

Persons with a traffic case at the First Municipal District in the Daley Center are reminded that all Traffic Section cases will be scheduled for videoconference on Zoom. Please look for the time, date and room number on the citation so you will know the correct Zoom information, and do not come to court if you are not set for an in-person hearing.

Starting on Monday, July 6, the Circuit Court of Cook County will resume in-person court proceedings, with the exception of jury trials. However, the circuit court will continue to hold hearings by videoconference whenever it is reasonably possible.

To avoid an unnecessary trip to the courthouse, all litigants should consult with their legal counsel or the Clerk of the Circuit Court for information about whether to appear in-person, or for instructions for participating in virtual court proceedings.

More court proceedings to resume July 6

Jury trials remain postponed in criminal and civil cases

Discussions continue on the upcoming phases of operation in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The court is currently operating on its modified schedule through May 31. The court continues to monitor the pandemic and is mindful that the pandemic is not expected to peak until mid-June.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today entered an

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today entered an

Many criminal and civil cases in the Circuit Court of Cook County will be postponed for a 30-day period starting Tuesday (March 17) due to the spread of the coronavirus, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today.

Court operations will proceed as scheduled on Monday (March 16). The 30-day period runs from March 17 through April 15.

Pursuant to action taken Wednesday by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Circuit Judge Jackie Marie Portman-Brown has been reassigned to administrative duties. The assignment is effective until further notice.

The committee is aware that a security camera at the Leighton Criminal Court Building recorded Judge Portman-Brown placing a child relative into an empty lockup. On February 26, Chief Judge Evans directed Criminal Division Presiding Judge LeRoy K. Martin Jr. to assign Judge Portman-Brown to administrative duties.