Cook County Public Defender

Jewish lawyer can sue Cook Co. Public Defender for making her take down pic featuring Israeli flag, gun

By Jonathan Bilyk | Monday, Mar 24, 2025 @ 9:40pm

A federal judge said Debra Gassman has done enough so far to show the Cook County Public Defender's office violated her First Amendment rights by forcing her to take down a photo from her office showing the ex-IDF volunteer holding a rifle in front of the Israeli flag
Cook County Public Defender poised to win OK to represent illegal immigrants in deportation cases beyond Chicago

By Jonathan Bilyk | Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025 @ 1:00pm

The Cook County Public Defender's Office has represented 150+ immigrants facing deportation in Chicago Immigration Court since 2022. IL lawmakers are poised to allow the office to expand that mission to immigration courts elsewhere. Critics worry the program will only balloon from here, conflict with feds under Trump