Links

The Cook County Public Defender Podcast

    Listen on Spotify

     https://open.spotify.com/show/3NgQ59GmeSQIAuXB3ZJWbr

    Listen on Apple Podcasts

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cook-county-public-defender-podcast/id1848984908 

    A circular navy and orange logo with an icon of a microphone. The logo reads, "Cook County Public Defender Podcast".

    News

      Tuesday, July 28 Bridgeview Courthouse Closed Due to Power Outage

      https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/news/july-28-closure-bridgeview-courthouse

      WGN-TV: Public Defender discusses cashless bail and electronic monitoring

      WGN-TV: Public Defender discusses cashless bail and electronic monitoring

      Joint Letter in Opposition to Chicago City Council Parental Liability Ordinance

      https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/news/letter-opposition-ordinance-o2023-0005298

      Friday, June 12 Power Outages and Courthouse Closures

      https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/news/court-closures-friday-june-12-2026

      Thursday, June 11 Power Outages and Courthouse Closures

      https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/news/june-11th-court-closures-due-power-outage

      Block Club Chicago: State’s Top DUI Cop Still On Medical Leave Months After Being Accused Of ‘Fabricating Evidence’

      Block Club Chicago: State’s Top DUI Cop Still On Medical Leave Months After Being Accused Of ‘Fabricating Evidence’

      Injustice Watch: ICE deported them. Cook County prosecutors still want them arrested for missing court.

      Injustice Watch: ICE deported them. Cook County prosecutors still want them arrested for missing court.

      Chew's Views: WCPT Interview with Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

      Chew's Views: WCPT Interview with Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

      WBEZ: Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell takes questions from WBEZ listeners

      WBEZ: Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell takes questions from WBEZ listeners

      ABC7: The Top Cop: Public defenders say ISP trooper copied, pasted findings in arrest reports over years

      ABC7: The Top Cop: Public defenders say ISP trooper copied, pasted findings in arrest reports over years

      Unraveled Press: Feds "conducting surveillance" at domestic violence courthouse, internal documents show

      Unraveled Press: Feds "conducting surveillance" at domestic violence courthouse, internal documents show

      Block Club Chicago: Tortured in El Salvador. Detained for Over a Year. Then Deported Anyway.

      Block Club Chicago: Tortured in El Salvador. Detained for Over a Year. Then Deported Anyway.

      ABC7 "Our Chicago" Interview with Public Defender, Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

      Interview with Public Defender, Sharone R. Michell, Jr. on ABC7 "Our Chicago" regarding the Pretrial Fairness Act

      PRESS CONFERENCE: ICIRR, allies, legal advocates sound the alarm on ICE presence at courthouses

      https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=784866631223585

      Block Club Chicago: Immigration Agents Return To Courthouses, Make Arrest, Local Officials Say

      https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/07/immigration-agents-return-to-co…

      WTTW: Federal Immigration Agents Reportedly Spotted at 4 Cook County Courthouses Thursday

      https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/07/federal-immigration-agents-reportedly-…

      Chicago Reader: Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke's complicated relationship with the Pretrial Fairness Act

      Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke's complicated relationship with the Pretrial Fairness Act

      The Impact of Legal Representation on Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation: Evidence from the MIDA Program

      The Impact of Legal Representation on Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation: Evidence from the MIDA Program

      Borderless: Cook County Public Defenders Built an Immigration Unit Five Years Ago. The Last Year Tested It.

      Borderless article Cook County Public Defenders Built an Immigration Unit Five Years Ago. The Last Year Tested It.

      Illinois Alumni: Public Defender, Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

      Illinois Alumni magazine article on Sharone R. Mitchell Jr., and his efforts to reform the criminal justice system

      Law Office Provides Testimony Supporting Supreme Court Rule Change to Allow Faster Review of Decisions Transferring Children to Adult Criminal Court

      Law Office Provides Testimony Supporting Supreme Court Rule Change to Allow Faster Review of Decisions Transferring Children to Adult Criminal Court

      Various outlets: Press Conference regarding ICE at Domestic Violence Courthouse
      WTTW: Some People in Illinois Jails Don't Receive Sentence Credit for Programs. A Bill Seeks to Change That.

      Some People in Illinois Jails Don’t Receive Sentence Credit for Programs. A Bill Seeks to Change That. | Chicago News | WTTW

      Inquest: Public Defense Goes to the Capitol

      https://inquest.org/public-defense-goes-to-the-capitol/

      The MacArthur Justice Center Files Amicus Brief in the United States v. State of Illinois on Behalf of Illinois Legal and Community Groups

      The Office of the Cook County Public Defender joined this amicus brief with the MacArthur Justice Center and Legal Action Chicago

      WBEZ: A woman who killed her alleged abusive boyfriend fears a jury won't believe her

      Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bvEwil2xAlFcM1Z6XsJHX?si=ocYxrK6qSe25Z6z5Imx8VA

      WBEZ: Chicago woman says she killed abusive boyfriend to save herself and their unborn child. Will a jury agree?

      https://www.wbez.org/crime/2026/02/25/chicago-crime-keshia-golden-domestic-violence-abuse-murder

      Chicago Sun-Times: Woman says she killed abusive boyfriend to save herself, unborn baby; now faces trial

      https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/02/24/chicago-crime-keshia-golden-domestic-violence-abuse-murder

      Chicago Sun-Times: Teams of lawyers put drivers back on the road by reinstating suspended licenses

      https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/02/07/drivers-license-reinstatement-expo-courts-transportation

      WTTW: Cook County State’s Attorney Reverses Course, Diverts Nonviolent Gun Cases to Restorative Justice Courts

      https://news.wttw.com/2026/01/28/cook-county-state-s-attorney-reverses-course-diverts-nonviolent-gun-cases-restorative?fbclid=IwY2xjawPxoxdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeMyWX1-l5ikAn1hhDMs17j8eH5tvG1LgUi9n2ebYzhLKj18NUKpY1kFda8iA_aem_C7tULqeOCnChzAa9LXxNDA

      The TRiiBE: Cook County’s top prosecutor resumes sending gun possession cases to restorative justice courts

      https://thetriibe.com/2026/02/cook-countys-top-prosecutor-resumes-sending-gun-possession-cases-to-restorative-justice-courts/

      The TRiiBE PERSPECTIVE: When SNAP benefits disappeared, public defenders stepped up

      https://thetriibe.com/2025/11/perspective-when-snap-benefits-disappeared-public-defenders-stepped-up/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn9Cz8Ov4XqjTrOPnx4U3CYk-U4wBMebzWOq3Tthi2ewZR3n4XyB1yfQdvXQo_aem_F9ljRkvdBz5GQKnWdAzKPQ

      Events / Resources

        Freedom Defense Center Events

        https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/community-engagement/community-defense-centers

        All Upcoming Events

        https://www.cookcountypublicdefender.org/community-engagement/upcoming-events