Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans of Cook County Circuit Court announced Tuesday that media cameras soon will be allowed in some Cook County criminal courtrooms.

Chief Justice Garman said that the Supreme Court has given its approval for the Cook County Circuit  Court to become part of a pilot program already being implemented in 40 other counties in Illinois.

Effective Monday, January 5, 2015, the media will be allowed to video and audio record proceedings at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago in accordance with procedures contained in the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Extended Media Coverage and a new local Circuit Court rule promulgated by Chief Judge Evans.

“The opening of Cook County criminal courtrooms to media cameras is a significant and very welcome step in our efforts to bring greater transparency to the judicial process, while protecting the rights of the accused, witnesses, and jurors," Chief Justice Garman said. "The experience with media coverage in other judicial circuits has been overwhelmingly positive, and it is time to extend the pilot program to the most populous county in the state.

Results from 1st Circuit judicial elections and retentions for the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. All Cook County Judges were retained. John J. Mahoney won the 4th Subcircuit vacancy and James Paul Pieczonka won the 12th Subcircuit vacancy.

As the next step in his efforts to give increased focus and resources to pretrial services operations, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced that he has appointed an assistant chief and two deputy chiefs to lead the Pretrial Services Division of the Adult Probation Department.

The three individuals selected by Chief Judge Evans, their titles and responsibilities are as follows:

• Juan Hinojosa, Assistant Chief to oversee the entire Pretrial Services Division;
• Connie Williams, Deputy Chief for Chicago pretrial services operations in Central Bond Court; and
• Michael Callahan, Deputy Chief for suburban pretrial services operations in Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham.

The names of 13 new associate judges, selected in a vote of Cook County Circuit Court judges, were announced Tuesday by Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

Ballots listing the names of 26 finalists, chosen from 277 candidates, were distributed to 257 circuit judges. Ballots were due April 25, 2014.

The Alliance of Bar Associations and the Chicago Bar Association evaluated the candidates. Each candidate was interviewed by an 11-member nominating committee, comprised of Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans of the Cook County Circuit Court and 10 presiding judges.

Judge Evans certified the 26 finalists to the Administrative Director on March 28, 2014.

In accordance with the 1970 Illinois Constitution, the Administrative Office conducted the election pursuant to the provisions of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 39 which directs that twice as many candidates as vacancies be nominated. Supreme Court Rule 39 provides that the term for all associate judges expires on June 30, 2015. The 13 judges appointed today, as well as those associate judges currently serving, must be reappointed July 1, 2015. Cook County seats 146 associate judges.

The following is a list of the newly selected Cook County associate judges. A brief biography of the thirteen associate judges named today is attached.