Two Defenders in our Bridgeview courthouse spoke to ABC7’s I-Team about their findings that led them to believe an Illinois State Police trooper repeatedly used dishonest practices to increase his DUI arrests—inflating his reputation and his salary while he was at it. They have called for the State to investigate ISP Trooper Kevin Bradley.
Thanks to Assistant Public Defenders Rae Sanonetti and Andrew Segal for sharing these findings and advocating for an investigation.
🔗 Read and watch the full story at the link in bio.
Today is the anniversary of the opening of the Freedom Defense Center of Roseland. We are proud of the work we've accomplished these last twelve months, and we are grateful to the community members and partners who have made this all possible. We're looking forward to continuing our fight for justice in collaboration with residents.
Visit us in Roseland for comprehensive and accessible legal defense, social services, and education through community collaboration.
Our office's legal team won M.G.'s immigration case, proving that if he returned to El Salvador he would be at significant risk of being tortured. Still, after 14 months in ICE detention, the Trump Administration deported M.G. to Mexico. Our Immigration Division attorney, paralegal, and social worker continued to fight for him to achieve asylum in Mexico, but he was ultimately deported from Mexico to El Salvador earlier this year.
The Trump Administration's practice of removing people to third countries defies the protections of asylum and international law, and it ultimately puts people like M.G. in incredibly dangerous situations. Without a lawyer, it’s almost impossible to fight these removals. Even with an experienced legal team, we were ultimately unable to prevent M.G.’s removal. Now, we must share his harrowing story as other legal challenges to these policies proceed in the courts.
If you or a loved one have an immigration court date or an ICE check-in, consider asking someone to go with you. If you need help identifying someone to accompany you, call the @icirr_il Family Support hotline at 855-435-7693 to be connected to a supportive community group. To volunteer in support of our immigrant neighbors or find additional resources, visit illinoisimmigrationinfo.org.
Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr. joined ABC7 last week to talk about the impact of the Pretrial Fairness Act and push back on calls to make pretrial detention mandatory. While opponents of the law claimed that no one would come to court and violence would skyrocket, none of that has come to pass. Instead, judges now have more information and spend more time making better decisions, and access to money plays no role in who is released and who is detained.
🔗 Watch Sharone's full interview at the link in our bio.
Yesterday, we joined our partners @icirr_il , @immigrantjustice , @org.paso , @pilsenpuno , & @resurrectionproject to denounce the ongoing and escalating presence of ICE at Cook County courthouses. Our Domestic Courthouse Attorney Supervisor Katie Pelech spoke about how targeting people attending court in violation of state law, local court order, and county ordinance undermines access to justice and puts our communities at risk.
If you have a court hearing coming up, speak with your attorney about whether it is possible for you to appear virtually. As always, know your rights, make a safety plan, and report any ICE activity to ICIRR's Family Support Hotline: 1-855-435-7693
You can find the link to watch the full press conference and read some of the resulting media on our website - link in bio!
📣 Join our team of Defenders! We’re hiring for an Administrative Assistant, and qualified applicants who apply early will have the opportunity to interview in person at our upcoming Job Fair.
Learn more and apply before May 27, 2026 at:
cookcountypublicdefender.org/careers
The number of people in Cook County jail is increasing even as violence has decreased across the county and the state. When people who are presumed innocent are jailed awaiting trial, it jeopardizes their housing, employment, and custody and care of their children. All of that destabilization means the more we jail people awaiting trial, the more likely they are to be rearrested in the future—the opposite of our public safety goals.
The Pretrial Fairness Act is designed to protect the constitutional rights of all accused people by ensuring everyone receives a robust, individualized hearing before their liberty can be taken away. Blanket policies that require prosecutors to seek detention based on charge alone undermine the spirit of the law by removing individualization and discretion—essential elements of fairness and good decision-making. Defaulting to more detention in more cases will ultimately make our communities less safe.
Last Friday, Defenders from across the County celebrated Law Day by sharing resources and information at our local County Law Libraries. More than just a collection of books, these Libraries are a specialized resource center for lawyers, judges, self-represented litigants, and the public. By providing access to essential tools, Law Libraries serve as a bridge to the legal system and promote access to justice for all.
We are proud to be part of the Midwest Immigrant Defenders Alliance (MIDA), a collaborative deportation defense program in partnership with @immigrantjustice , @theimmigrationproject.tip , @resurrectionproject , @eriehouse , @themicaproject , and @clcchicago .
Legal representation makes a significant difference in case outcomes for immigrant clients. Thanks to the @verainstitute for conducting this independent evaluation.
🔗 Read the full report at the link in bio.
Every day at immigration court in Chicago, people face the system alone, unsure of their rights or what comes next.
NIJC and our partners are stepping in, in real time to help. But the need far exceeds capacity and without access to legal counsel, people are far less likely to stay in the U.S.
“The biggest challenge for us is just this ever-shifting landscape,” said NIJC Legal Supervisor Mara Weaver Boshart to the @chicagotribune . “It’s tough for attorneys, but even more for clients.”
Through work with our partners @resurrectionproject , @theimmigrationproject1995 , and @cookcodefender , we're working to expand access to counsel where no one has to experience immigration court alone. A new @verainstitute study shows that legal representation continues to make a real difference in people's lives.
Catch the Chicago Tribune's coverage via our link at the top. 🔗☝️
