Update on Actions to Improve Court Access for Victims of Domestic Abuse Provided to Cook County Board

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting 
Oct 7, 2021

Attendance:  16 Commissioners present led by President Preckwinkle and  Commissioner Sims

Meeting Highlights:

• Agenda Item 21-5492  Proposed resolution requesting an update on actions to improve access to justice for victims of domestic violence.       Passed               Kate Nolan, staff attorney in the Chief Judge office, reported on the steps being taken to ensure victims of domestic abuse have access to the court system in order to obtain an order of protection.   The court is working with the Clerk of the Court, the Sheriff, and other stakeholders to set up 24/7 access.  The target date is November 8.   A judge will be on call after standard court hours. A remote hearing will be set up.   A person could access the hearing via a phone call.     If a person calls the Illinois Domestic Abuse Hotline, a facilitator would be available to help with a petition for an order of protection.  Judge Evans is also re-establishing the Domestic Violence Court Committee to improve the process in the domestic violence courts.  The committee will include judges, a representative from the president’s office, the Clerk of the Court, the Sheriff, and advocates.  Ms. Nolan will be on the committee and will be the point person for the Commissioners.   She will report back periodically.   The committee will address access to the courts, ease of use of the website, and availability of interpreters.  Each court will have a coordinator to help the petitioner in the process.
• Agenda Item 21-5542  Proposed Resolution to create a special purpose fund for equity and inclusion projects.  Passed        It seeds nearly $100 million to be allocated through November 2022 to address historical disparities and disinvestment in Black and Latinx communities as well as other communities that are marginalized or have experienced other social and economic disparities.

Observed by:  Kathi Graffam                       Meeting Length - 3 hours