|
Divisions
of the Public Defender's Office
Capital
Case Coordinator
2650 S. California, Chicago, IL
phone: 312-603-0600
The Capital Case Coordinator (CCC ) monitors all capital
cases handled by the Law Office of the Cook County Public
Defender and acts as a resource for attorneys assigned
to those cases. The CCC assists Assistant Public Defenders
by discussing with them issues and strategies related
to the handling of capital cases. The CCC obtains the
services of a mitigation specialist when necessary and
interviews candidates who seek to do mitigation work
for the Office. The CCC also provides input regarding
how resources from the Capital Litigation Trust Fund
(CLTF) should be used in the litigation of capital cases,
and is involved in the budgetary process related to
the CLTF. The CCC’s responsibilities also include
appearing before the General Assembly in defense of
the indigent in capital cases and helping lawmakers
assess the impact of proposed laws on indigent people
who are endangered by the death penalty. The CCC also
assists in the development and implementation of training
programs related to capital issues.
Civil Division
2245 West Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL
phone: 312-433-7046
The Civil Division of the Law Office of the Cook County
Public Defenders consists of the following units:
- Child
Protection: Assistant Public Defenders represent
parents when the State files allegations of abuse,
neglect or dependency. The Office advocates for the
parents in their efforts to reunite with their children.
- Mental
Health: The Court may appoint the Office
in limited situations where the State seeks to involuntarily
commit individuals to a mental health facility.
- Paternity:
When the State is attempting to establish a child’s
parentage, Assistant Public Defenders may be appointed
by the Court to represent an alleged parent, but only
for the purpose of hearings to establish parentage
and, if necessary, the first order of child-support.
Felony
Trial Division
2650 S. California, Chicago, IL
phone: 773-869-3217
Attorneys assigned to the Law Office of the Cook County
Public Defender’s Felony Trial Division represent
indigent defendants in 34 courtrooms that take in cases
from the City of Chicago. These cases range in severity
from drug possession to first degree murder.
Forensic
Science Division
69 W. Washington - 17th Floor, Chicago, IL
phone: 312-603-8300
The Forensic Science Division (FSD) of the Law Office
of the Cook County Public Defender litigates cases involving
any forensic evidence, including, but not limited to,
forensic DNA analysis. It also provides training, case
reviews, and litigation assistance for other Assistant
Public Defenders in cases involving forensic science.
Homicide
Task Force
2650 S. California, Chicago, IL
phone: 773-869-3217
The Homicide Task Force is a specialized division of
the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, consisting
not only of lawyers deemed to have sufficient experience
to represent indigent people who are accused of first
degree murder, but of attorneys whose experience, skill,
education and training have earned them admission to
the Capital Litigation Trial Bar.
By
rule of the Illinois Supreme Court, only lawyers who
belong to the Capital Litigation Trial Bar can try a
case in which the client faces the possibility of the
death penalty. Assistant Public Defenders assigned to
the Homicide Task Force have the resources of experienced
investigators and support staff, and are able to enlist
the help of capital-qualified lawyers from throughout
the Office to assist them at trial. Each member of the
Homicide Task Force represents his or her client from
the beginning of the case at the indictment stage through
any sentencing that may take place after trial.
Investigations
Division
2650 S. California, Chicago, IL
phone: 773-869-6300
The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender includes
an Investigation Division that handles a wide variety
of tasks in support of the lawyers who are Assistant
Public Defenders. Together, they endeavor to provide
clients with the best possible defense. Investigators
conduct preliminary searches, locate witnesses, serve
court documents, make reports, interview clients entering
the system and take photos of injuries and scenes of
alleged crimes. Investigators testify before the Circuit
Court, as required, and relate the results of any investigative
task back to the attorneys. Investigators also transport
and physically assist clients and/or witnesses who need
that service.
Juvenile
Justice Division
2245 West Ogden, Chicago IL
phone: 312-433-7046
The Juvenile Justice Division represents youths accused
of crimes ranging from first-degree murder to graffiti.
By law, these clients are younger than 17 years old
when their cases begin.
Our
lawyers also represent children in situations in which
the State is seeking to have the case transferred to
adult court. This division also assigns attorneys to
three suburban locations where juvenile cases are heard
once a week. Those suburbs are Skokie, Rolling Meadows
and Bridgeview.
Click
here for more information on the Juvenile Court System.
Legal
Resources Division
69 W. Washington - 15th Floor, Chicago IL
phone: 312-603-0600
The primary responsibility of the Legal Resources Division
is to represent the indigent in post conviction matters
and appellate cases. Attorneys assigned to Legal Resources
also work to enhance the performance of lawyers in the
various trial divisions of the Law Office of the Cook
County Public Defender by providing legal research,
training and litigation assistance.
Multiple
Defendant Division
69 W. Washington - 16th Floor, Chicago IL
phone: 312-603-8300
Attorneys assigned to the Multiple Defendant Division
(MDD) of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
represent clients in felony and first degree murder
cases where more than one person is accused. These attorneys
represent indigent accused throughout the county and
act independently of other divisions in the office.
Professional
Development
69 W. Washington - 16th Floor, Chicago IL
phone: 312-603-0724
The Division of Professional Development is responsible
for the professional development of management, attorneys,
investigators, and support staff, who comprise the Law
Office of the Cook County Public Defender. This is accomplished
by combining the use of in-house training events with
external training sources. The in-house events include
week long workshops, day and half-day seminars, orientations,
brown bag lunches and informal sessions. The division
has a video and manual library available for training.
They also have media equipment that can be used by members
of the office.
Click
here for more information about the Court Divisions
from the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
|
