The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice is seeking volunteers for its Community Trust and Disability Access Committees. Help advance equitable access to justice across Illinois. Learn more and apply: chicagocouncil.org/atj-commissi... Applications are due by April 24, 2026.

There is still time to register for this free, top-notch panel! We kindly ask that you confirm your attendance by the close of business today, March 31st. Learn more about the event and register here: chicagocouncil.org/event/ice-ov...

FISA Section 702 allows broad government surveillance powers, but growing concerns about warrantless access and oversight are driving calls for reform. As Congress revisits the law, key questions remain about privacy, accountability, and executive power. chicagocouncil.org/chicago-coun...

Join us in person or online for a free and timely panel discussion on how various groups are working to hold ICE accountable for its actions in Chicago. Learn more about the event and register: chicagocouncil.org/event/ice-ov... Please share the details of this event with your network!

Preliminary results from the March 2026 Cook County judicial primary elections are now available. Learn more from Injustice Watch here: www.injusticewatch.org/judges/judic...

We are urging the withdrawal of a proposed DOJ rule that could undermine independent oversight and accountability for government attorneys. Learn more about the implications and why it matters for the rule of law: chicagocouncil.org/chicago-coun...

AI Surveillance is expanding rapidly, but the legal safeguards protecting privacy & civil liberties have not kept pace. Stronger regulation, transparency & comprehensive federal privacy protections are needed as AI-powered surveillance tools become more widespread. chicagocouncil.org/ai-surveilla...

The law can be used to justify harm and to shield the people who cause it. When enforcement hides behind legality, cruelty is reframed as responsibility. Justice demands more than simply following the rules. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kle...

Time-sensitive opportunity through the Illinois State Bar Association to serve as a volunteer investigator in the 2026 judicial retention cycle. If you’re looking for a substantive introduction to judicial evaluation work, this is a powerful way to start! chicagocouncil.org/judicial-inv...

The Supreme Court struck down Trump's tariffs as unconstitutional. www.nbcwashington.com/news/nationa...

Continuing a long-standing commitment to judicial integrity, transparency, and accountability, the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening has issued its evaluations of judicial candidates ahead of the 2026 primary election. Learn more: chicagocouncil.org/alliance-of-...

We stand with our Board Member and constitutional advocate, Robert Held, as he speaks out against an unprovoked attack by an off-duty ICE agent. Read his full statement: chicagocouncil.org/statement-fr...

The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed its decision to return Judge James R. Brown to the bench after local bar associations raised concerns that his commentary ran afoul of the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct. cwbchicago.com/2026/01/supr...

Join Law for Black Lives for their town hall on January 28th, 2026, at 5 pm CT. Learn more and register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Multiple news outlets are reporting on the criminal charge filed against an ICE agent following an incident in suburban Chicago. These reports raise critical questions about accountability, transparency, and the protection of civil rights. NY Times: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...

Warrantless arrests. A binding consent decree. And thousands of people caught in between. When the government stopped following the rules, the courts were forced to intervene, and the consequences are still unfolding. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNWN...

Register and join the Civil Disagreements Virtual Program ‘Unitary Executive Theory: Legitimate Constitutional Theory or Path To Dictatorship?’ on January 22, 2026, at 1 pm EST. 1 hour of CLE will be available to Illinois lawyers from the CCL. americanbar.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

When someone is in crisis, care saves lives, not confrontation. Non-police crisis response teams work, but access in Chicago is still far too limited, and we need to change that. youtube.com/shorts/5EUFD...

Robert Held, a Chicago attorney and member of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, described a recent incident in which he was assaulted by someone he believed was a federal agent while legally filming from a public sidewalk in Brookfield. Read the article here: www.rblandmark.com/2026/01/06/a...

Why do police board reforms matter? After the Laquan McDonald shooting, Chicago confronted deep accountability failures. These reforms were designed to protect fairness, transparency, and public trust in our justice system. www.youtube.com/shorts/QX2VY...

When federal power started moving toward Chicago, the state of Illinois had to immediately act. Moments like this ask a hard question: who decides when military force enters a state, and what happens when constitutional lines are tested? www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHQz...

The Chicago Council of Lawyers has submitted a letter to the Illinois Supreme Court regarding retired Judge James R. Brown, underscoring the importance of judicial integrity, accountability, and public trust in our courts. chicagocouncil.org/letter-to-th...

Public input plays a crucial role in shaping our judiciary. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford is seeking public comment on 11 applicants for an At-Large Circuit Judge vacancy in the 16th Judicial Circuit, created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Kevin T. Busch on Jan 29, 2026.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers and Chicago Appleseed for Fair Courts announced a significant change in their relationship, effective January 1, 2026. chicagocouncil.org/chicago-coun...

An upcoming Illinois Supreme Court ruling could determine whether arbitration hearings in serious police misconduct cases must remain open to the public. David Melton explains why public access to these proceedings is essential while providing historical context. www.pbs.org/video/how-an...

We show up with words, not weapons, but we've been met with force. This firsthand account from Broadview reveals what peaceful protesters are facing simply for speaking out. www.youtube.com/shorts/oitog...

Knowledge is power, especially in moments of fear. This video breaks down how to report #ICE activity safely using the SALUTE method and where to turn for support. www.youtube.com/shorts/oHIPE...

In a new Daily Herald op-ed, Robert Held, a member of the Board of Governors of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, examines the constitutional safeguards meant to hold federal power accountable and what’s at stake when they fail. www.dailyherald.com/20251218/col...

Civil rights attorney Locke Bowman exposes the brutal truth behind Operation Midway Blitz and the unlawful force used against our communities. His words are a reminder of why we must defend the Constitution when those in power choose to ignore it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdMU...

The Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago (FJLOC) have released powerful new reports on some of the hardest issues in our legal system: parole, reentry, immigration, prison healthcare, and mercy behind bars. www.youtube.com/shorts/Xs-dC...

At Broadview, officials try to restrict where people can stand, but the community keeps showing up. When peaceful assembly is treated like a threat, courage becomes protection. We raise our voices for justice, dignity, and democracy. www.youtube.com/shorts/wTZRm...

The conditions reported at the Broadview #ICE facility are not just legal issues, they’re human ones. We’re sharing this briefing to help our community stay informed, engaged, and committed to protecting civil liberties for all. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIKT...

Tear gas, pepper balls, boarded-up doors, and masked agents with no identification, this is what people in Broadview are facing for simply showing up to defend their neighbors. www.youtube.com/shorts/PFeNj...

Chicago lawyers, law firms, and judges have played a pivotal role in challenging unlawful federal actions. From warrantless arrests to excessive force. Learn what’s happened, what courts have ruled, and why defending constitutional rights matters now more than ever. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVx4...

CCL board member Robert Held is challenging Broadview’s protest hour restrictions outside the #ICE facility, arguing they place unconstitutional limits on peaceful assembly—especially for working people who can’t protest during a 9-6 window. @chicago.suntimes.com chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/11...

Illinois Supreme Court Commission’s Lawyers’ Assistance Program is asking all Illinois judges & lawyers to participate in a confidential survey. Your input will help strengthen programs & services for lawyers facing challenges around stress, mental health, alcohol or substance use, & gambling.

Today - Riverwalk - downtown!

Thank you for joining us at our fall event! From policy to practice, we're transforming courts, reducing harms, and working toward a system of true justice.

When accountability is threatened, justice demands vigilance.  In this short video, Chicago Council of Lawyers member and attorney Robert Held shares a powerful account of ICE’s attempt to detain a child who recorded evidence against them.  www.youtube.com/shorts/jGJV3...

Rally to protest the teacher violently taken by federal agents at a private daycare this morning on Addison near Western.

Consistent with prior research that 911 calls decrease after the release of videos of police violence against unarmed Black men www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/03/9...

In Illinois, juvenile detention centers are exempt from FOIA meaning the public can't access employee disciplinary records, confinement data, and policy manuals. As my editor @jonahshai.bsky.social once put it, it's much harder to get information about the youth jail than it is about the adult jail

Read our letter to Gov Pritzker & Mayor Thompson regarding reforms to the restrictions on protests in Broadview & to the police discretion employed there. chicagocouncil.org/letter-to-go...

my letter to the CEO, President, and COO of Services Corporation International, the owner of Dignity Memorial, which manages the cemetery in which my mom is buried that was being used as an ICE staging ground this afternoon.

Join us at Broadview tomorrow, Saturday, October 18, at 5:00 PM. Broadview ICE facility, 1930 Beach Street Come stand with a colleague defending constitutional principles when they are most needed.

@nlgchicago.bsky.social is trying to raise $10k to fund ongoing legal support for protesters. They've had to cover long shifts at Broadview, and their volunteers have been repeatedly assaulted by police in the process. More info with ways to donate here: instagram.com/p/DP36ITJja-W/

In the spirit of the CJ's order barring civil arrests of people participating in court, we've offered some resources and opportunities for community support in the pushback against ICE in Chicago. chicagocouncil.org/resources-fo...

NEWS: Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans issued an order today meant to prevent immigration arrests -- "civil arrest" -- for individuals attending court proceedings in Cook County.

For the last five years, people being released from Cook County Jail have gotten out later and later at night. In 2021, ~14% of people got out between 11 pm and 3 am. In 2024, ~40% of all releases took place in those wee hours. My latest, for @chicagoreader.com chicagoreader.com/news/cook-co...