Nonprofit newsroom investigating the Cook County court system
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Special prosecutors are called in when the local state’s attorney has a conflict of some kind. Here’s how the process works. The post What is a special prosecutor and how are they appointed? appeared first on Injustice Watch .
After 31-year-old mother of three Megan Wells was killed in a 2016 Rock River boat crash by an allegedly drunk boater, special prosecutors dropped most of the charges as part of a plea deal, allowing the defendant, a well-connected pharmacist, to walk free. The lead prosecutor never publicly disclosed a professional connection to the local state’s attorney he replaced. The post Special prosecutors…
The agency housing Illinois’ Special Prosecution Unit is deeply entangled in state politics and got a legislative ally to write it out of the state’s public records law. The post Special prosecutors have strong political ties and practically no public oversight appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Special prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence that could have set murder defendant Curtis Lovelace free. The former Adams County prosecutor was acquitted in 2017 for the murder of his wife after spending 21 months in jail, but the misguided prosecution tore through his community and life. The post How the Special Prosecution Unit shattered a small-town civic leader’s life appeared first on…
Illinois’ Special Prosecution Unit has been responsible for dozens of questionable cases, while acting outside of public view and with little oversight. The post ‘The wrong side of justice’ appeared first on Injustice Watch .
As Chicago’s top cop steps down, police are making fewer traffic stops. But our new investigation finds half of stops are still not being reported to oversight agencies, despite a state law mandating disclosure. The post Chicago Police promised to ‘fix’ secret traffic stops. A year later, the problem has only gotten worse. appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Hundreds of Illinois immigrants have filed wrongful detention lawsuits since the Trump Administration’s Operation Midway Blitz began in September. Many of them have U.S. citizen children and longtime community ties. The post Immigrants in Illinois are finding success challenging their detention in federal court appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Days after an appeals court ruled that some people should automatically get certificates of innocence, state legislators passed a bill to raise compensation for wrongful convictions. The post Illinois bill and court ruling could help more people move on after wrongful convictions appeared first on Injustice Watch .
State legislators passed historic reforms to Illinois’ controversial tax sales, which had led to thousands losing their homes and all of their home equity. The post Illinois tax sales get an overhaul, but how much will homeowners benefit? appeared first on Injustice Watch .
We’re researching the Cook County judges running for another term in November for our judicial election guide. Have something to share? Let us know. The post What can you tell us about these Cook County judges running for retention? appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Cook County prosecutors are asking judges to issue warrants for people who were no-shows in traffic court — because they had already been deported. The post ICE deported them. Cook County prosecutors still want them arrested for missing court. appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Illinois State Police distributed a federal “Be on the Lookout” alert for comedian Ben Palmer over a satirical immigration tip line that went viral. The post DHS placed a comedian on law enforcement’s radar. Illinois spread the word. appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Keller brings more than 15 years of experience in fundraising for newsrooms and other nonprofits to the role The post Katharine Keller joins Injustice Watch as development director appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Certificates of innocence can help exonerated people get jobs and housing. State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke is making them harder to get. The post Cook County prosecutor fights to block exonerated people from clearing their names appeared first on Injustice Watch .
The Illinois General Assembly is considering a trio of bills that would amend the state’s tax sale laws to make sure that homeowners are fairly compensated when their properties are seized for delinquent property taxes. Under current tax sale laws, private investors can purchase homeowners’ tax debts from counties, impose interest and fees, and go […] The post Steps Illinois lawmakers could take…
The Illinois Forensic Science Commission called on the university to conduct a proper audit of its lab, which has been responsible for nearly two dozen wrongful DUI convictions. The post State forensic science commission blasts UIC over rogue crime lab appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Voters had no choice in more than half the races, which were uncontested. Several candidates won despite negative ratings from local bar groups. The post Judicial election results: Three appointed judges rejected by voters in Cook County judicial primaries appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Live election results for the March 2026 Cook County judicial primary elections. The post Live results: March 2026 Cook County judicial primary election appeared first on Injustice Watch .
This year, fewer judicial candidates are running overall, either countywide or in a subcircuit. But voters in the South Loop, Hyde Park, South Shore and Roseland neighborhoods are choosing from an unusually crowded field for two open seats. The post What makes these judicial races on Chicago’s South Side unique? appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Real estate investor Greg Bingham made a fortune taking Cook County homes through tax foreclosure. Along the way, he has been dogged by allegations of fraud, according to court records and a previously undisclosed probe by the Treasurer’s office. The post The King of Liens appeared first on Injustice Watch .
A Block Club Chicago investigation found dozens of protesters arrested by state police are still facing criminal charges for minor infractions, such as sitting on a concrete barrier — even after Gov. JB Pritzker vowed to protect their First Amendment rights. The post Why is the Cook County State’s Attorney prosecuting nonviolent ICE protesters? appeared first on Injustice Watch .
We printed 170,000 copies of our judicial election guide for the March 17 primary elections and distributed them across Cook County. Here’s where you can find them. The post Where to find a copy of Injustice Watch’s judicial election guide for the 2026 primary appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Injustice Watch's guide to the March 2026 Cook County judicial primary elections. The post March 2026 Cook County judicial election guide appeared first on Injustice Watch .
For the second straight primary season, more than half the races for Cook County circuit judge on the March 17 ballot are uncontested, with just 45 candidates vying for 28 open seats. The post No contest: Cook County judicial primary elections draw dwindling field of candidates appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Injustice Watch reported last year that Leonard Dixon, who ran the Cook County juvenile detention center for a decade, owned property and voted in Michigan. The post Former juvenile jail superintendent lived in Chicago, report says appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Weeks after two lawyer groups urged his removal over a blog post on a conservative opinion site, the state high court vacated retired Judge James R. Brown’s temporary assignment to the Cook County Circuit Court. The post Illinois Supreme Court removes reinstated judge following rebuke of conspiracy-filled blog post appeared first on Injustice Watch .
The Illinois Supreme Court brought Judge James R. Brown back to Cook County to address a judge shortage — but two bar groups say his recent comments in a conservative blog should disqualify him. The post ‘Blatantly disrespectful’: Lawyer groups push for removal of reinstated judge appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Officials were able to use the county’s revitalization program for personal and political gain, neglected seized properties, and stripped homeowners of equity they had built up in their properties. The post Cook County allows tax foreclosures by municipalities. Poor oversight led to misuse by local officials. appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Revisit some of our team’s outstanding reporting from this past year, including our investigations into tax foreclosures, a rogue forensics lab, juvenile detention, wrongful convictions, and the county’s first new chief judge in nearly a quarter-century. The post Injustice Watch’s best work of 2025 appeared first on Injustice Watch .
Illinois has strengthened its labor laws and improved efforts to collect stolen wages. But hundreds of cases linger in Cook County court, leaving workers waiting years to be fully compensated, an Injustice Watch investigation found. The post Illinois fails to collect wages owed to workers in Cook County appeared first on Injustice Watch .
