Jury Trials To Ramp Up As Chief Judge Announces Expanded Capacity

CHICAGO — In light of a growing backlog of felony cases, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced Friday the courthouse will open additional courtrooms to speed up both jury and bench trials.

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, 86 courtrooms can now be available for trials. Of those, 76 are large enough to be used for jury trials under looser public health guidelines, a spokesperson for Evans' office wrote.

Evans' statement also said the increased capacity would speed-up previously delayed resolutions. During the height of pandemic restrictions, jury trials would take up to three different courtrooms to keep up with sanitizing and social distancing requirements.

The new order will take effect on July 23, meaning the 159 cases that are ready for trial could be wrapped up by the end of September, the release stated. On Oct. 1, the Illinois Supreme Court's temporary suspension of speedy trail requirements will be up, and prosecutors anticipate a flood of trial requests.

In order to keep up with demand, Evans said former criminal court judges who are located in other suburbs or divisions might be called to preside over current criminal trials. The new order will increase the Leighton Criminal Courthouse's capacity from one jury trial per week to about six.

Cases in which defendants have previously invoked their right to a speedy trial will be given top priority, after which the age of a case and the defendant's custody status will determine the order in which cases are addressed.