title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION REQUESTING AN UPDATE ON COOK COUNTY JUDICIAL STAKEHOLDERS' ACTIONS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WHEREAS the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues issued "Recommendations: Protections for Survivors of Gender Based Violence" in July 2021, and
WHEREAS during the Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 29, 2021,
a public speaker referenced an incident where a woman seeking an emergency order of protection was denied access to the Domestic Violence Court, and
WHEREAS the Cook County Board of Commissioners supports expanded courtroom access for survivors of domestic violence to apply for legal orders of protection and understands the urgent need for improving access to justice for victims of domestic violence, and
WHEREAS the Office of the Chief Judge and the Clerk of the Circuit Court have also concurred with the recommendations of the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues and recognize that timely access to court proceedings and advocacy services must be guaranteed to victims of domestic violence, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Cook County Board of Commissioners requests an immediate update, at the Cook County Board meeting on October 7, 2021, from the Office of the Chief Judge and the Clerk of the Circuit Court on the progress being made toward the urgent goal of 24-hour domestic violence petitioners' access to the Court, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Cook County Board of Commissioners also requests that the County's judicial stakeholders including the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Cook County Sheriff's Office, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the Cook County Public Defender's Office and the Office of the Chief Judge provide the Commissioners with comprehensive plans, during the Finance Committee budget hearings in October, detailing how their offices can address the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues "Recommendations: Protections for Survivors ...
Click here for full text