On February 24, 2018, Rich Central High School Mock Trial Team, coached by Cook County Public Defender Attorney Supervisor Connie Jordan, took 1st place in the Cook County 6th District Circuit Court High School Mock Trial competition.
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The Cook County Public Defender's Office received the Clara Shortridge Foltz Award from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association and the American Bar Association. The award, bestowed every other year, recognizes a public defender program or defense delivery system for outstanding achievement in the provision of defense services to the poor.
Crystal Brown was awarded the Bruce Robert Jacobs Award by the Illinois Public Defender Association at its October 2017 meeting.
The Cook County’s public defender, whose office represents low-income defendants, warned Monday that she would stop accepting some new criminal cases if a new round of proposed countywide budget cuts go through.
On October 4, 2017, MacArthur Foundation President Julia Stasch announced a grant of $1.85 Million dollars to the Cook County Criminal Justice System to help promote the goal of further reducing the population of the Cook County Jail.
On August 1, 2017, Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli, along with Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, and Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Dorothy Brown, held a press conference to report on the memorandum prepared by former Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder, Jr., which analyzed the bond court system in Illinois, and particularly in Cook County, and made recommendations for reform.
The argument of the Public Defender is that her clients deserve the same level of confidence that their interests will be served by the assistant public defender that is appointed to represent them as do the clients of any private attorney.
CHICAGO—Last week, it was announced that Cook County has been recognized with nine Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
Chicago Tonight interview with Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans and Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli.
People held in custody by Chicago police will have access to an attorney at no charge under an order signed Tuesday by Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans.
The aim of the change is to rectify a glaring constitutional issue — the vast majority of those arrested in Chicago don't receive legal representation until their bail hearing in court, often after they've already made incriminating statements to detectives, according to research by a legal aid group.
Many key players in the legal system applauded Evans' move, which some declared "ground-breaking."