Links

The Cook County Public Defender Podcast

    Listen on Spotify

     https://open.spotify.com/show/3NgQ59GmeSQIAuXB3ZJWbr

    Listen on Apple Podcasts

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cook-county-public-defender-podcast/id1848984908 

    A circular navy and orange logo with an icon of a microphone. The logo reads, "Cook County Public Defender Podcast".

    Events / Resources

      Freedom Defense Center Events

      https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/community-engagement/community-defense-centers

      All Upcoming Events

      https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/community-engagement/upcoming-events

      News

        WGN-TV: Public Defender discusses cashless bail and electronic monitoring

        WGN-TV: Public Defender discusses cashless bail and electronic monitoring

        Joint Letter in Opposition to Chicago City Council Parental Liability Ordinance

        https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/news/letter-opposition-ordinance-o2023-0005298

        Friday, June 12 Power Outages and Courthouse Closures

        https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/news/court-closures-friday-june-12-2026

        Thursday, June 11 Power Outages and Courthouse Closures

        https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/news/june-11th-court-closures-due-power-outage

        Block Club Chicago: State’s Top DUI Cop Still On Medical Leave Months After Being Accused Of ‘Fabricating Evidence’

        Block Club Chicago: State’s Top DUI Cop Still On Medical Leave Months After Being Accused Of ‘Fabricating Evidence’

        Injustice Watch: ICE deported them. Cook County prosecutors still want them arrested for missing court.

        Injustice Watch: ICE deported them. Cook County prosecutors still want them arrested for missing court.

        Chew's Views: WCPT Interview with Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

        Chew's Views: WCPT Interview with Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

        WBEZ: Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell takes questions from WBEZ listeners

        WBEZ: Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell takes questions from WBEZ listeners

        ABC7: The Top Cop: Public defenders say ISP trooper copied, pasted findings in arrest reports over years

        ABC7: The Top Cop: Public defenders say ISP trooper copied, pasted findings in arrest reports over years

        Unraveled Press: Feds "conducting surveillance" at domestic violence courthouse, internal documents show

        Unraveled Press: Feds "conducting surveillance" at domestic violence courthouse, internal documents show

        Block Club Chicago: Tortured in El Salvador. Detained for Over a Year. Then Deported Anyway.

        Block Club Chicago: Tortured in El Salvador. Detained for Over a Year. Then Deported Anyway.

        ABC7 "Our Chicago" Interview with Public Defender, Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

        Interview with Public Defender, Sharone R. Michell, Jr. on ABC7 "Our Chicago" regarding the Pretrial Fairness Act

        PRESS CONFERENCE: ICIRR, allies, legal advocates sound the alarm on ICE presence at courthouses

        https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=784866631223585

        Block Club Chicago: Immigration Agents Return To Courthouses, Make Arrest, Local Officials Say

        https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/07/immigration-agents-return-to-co…

        WTTW: Federal Immigration Agents Reportedly Spotted at 4 Cook County Courthouses Thursday

        https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/07/federal-immigration-agents-reportedly-…

        Chicago Reader: Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke's complicated relationship with the Pretrial Fairness Act

        Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke's complicated relationship with the Pretrial Fairness Act

        The Impact of Legal Representation on Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation: Evidence from the MIDA Program

        The Impact of Legal Representation on Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation: Evidence from the MIDA Program

        Borderless: Cook County Public Defenders Built an Immigration Unit Five Years Ago. The Last Year Tested It.

        Borderless article Cook County Public Defenders Built an Immigration Unit Five Years Ago. The Last Year Tested It.

        Illinois Alumni: Public Defender, Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

        Illinois Alumni magazine article on Sharone R. Mitchell Jr., and his efforts to reform the criminal justice system

        Law Office Provides Testimony Supporting Supreme Court Rule Change to Allow Faster Review of Decisions Transferring Children to Adult Criminal Court

        Law Office Provides Testimony Supporting Supreme Court Rule Change to Allow Faster Review of Decisions Transferring Children to Adult Criminal Court

        Various outlets: Press Conference regarding ICE at Domestic Violence Courthouse
        WTTW: Some People in Illinois Jails Don't Receive Sentence Credit for Programs. A Bill Seeks to Change That.

        Some People in Illinois Jails Don’t Receive Sentence Credit for Programs. A Bill Seeks to Change That. | Chicago News | WTTW

        Inquest: Public Defense Goes to the Capitol

        https://inquest.org/public-defense-goes-to-the-capitol/

        The MacArthur Justice Center Files Amicus Brief in the United States v. State of Illinois on Behalf of Illinois Legal and Community Groups

        The Office of the Cook County Public Defender joined this amicus brief with the MacArthur Justice Center and Legal Action Chicago

        WBEZ: A woman who killed her alleged abusive boyfriend fears a jury won't believe her

        Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bvEwil2xAlFcM1Z6XsJHX?si=ocYxrK6qSe25Z6z5Imx8VA

        WBEZ: Chicago woman says she killed abusive boyfriend to save herself and their unborn child. Will a jury agree?

        https://www.wbez.org/crime/2026/02/25/chicago-crime-keshia-golden-domestic-violence-abuse-murder

        Chicago Sun-Times: Woman says she killed abusive boyfriend to save herself, unborn baby; now faces trial

        https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/02/24/chicago-crime-keshia-golden-domestic-violence-abuse-murder

        Chicago Sun-Times: Teams of lawyers put drivers back on the road by reinstating suspended licenses

        https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/02/07/drivers-license-reinstatement-expo-courts-transportation

        WTTW: Cook County State’s Attorney Reverses Course, Diverts Nonviolent Gun Cases to Restorative Justice Courts

        https://news.wttw.com/2026/01/28/cook-county-state-s-attorney-reverses-course-diverts-nonviolent-gun-cases-restorative?fbclid=IwY2xjawPxoxdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeMyWX1-l5ikAn1hhDMs17j8eH5tvG1LgUi9n2ebYzhLKj18NUKpY1kFda8iA_aem_C7tULqeOCnChzAa9LXxNDA

        The TRiiBE: Cook County’s top prosecutor resumes sending gun possession cases to restorative justice courts

        https://thetriibe.com/2026/02/cook-countys-top-prosecutor-resumes-sending-gun-possession-cases-to-restorative-justice-courts/

        The TRiiBE PERSPECTIVE: When SNAP benefits disappeared, public defenders stepped up

        https://thetriibe.com/2025/11/perspective-when-snap-benefits-disappeared-public-defenders-stepped-up/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn9Cz8Ov4XqjTrOPnx4U3CYk-U4wBMebzWOq3Tthi2ewZR3n4XyB1yfQdvXQo_aem_F9ljRkvdBz5GQKnWdAzKPQ