Cook County Court Records
Cook County court records are essential sources of information for various stakeholders, including attorneys, judges, researchers, and the general public. These records include case files, docket sheets, transcripts, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, and other documents created as part of a court's proceedings. The records are typically maintained in both paper and electronic formats.
Illinois law makes provisions for public access to court records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Act allows the public to access and obtain copies of Cook County public records, including court records, subject to certain limitations.
The significance of Cook County court records lies in their ability to provide a comprehensive picture of legal proceedings in the county. The records serve as an invaluable source of information on legal matters, including the facts of a case, the legal arguments made by the parties involved, and the court's decision.
The availability of Cook County court records to the public helps to promote openness and accountability in the judicial process. Further, the records are often used as evidence in subsequent legal proceedings. Parties may use prior court decisions as a precedent in a new case.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the custodian of court records in Cook County, Illinois. The Clerk is responsible for maintaining court records and works in tandem with the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court - who oversees the administration of the county court system - to ensure that court records are accurate, complete, and accessible to the public per Illinois law.
Are Court Records Public in Cook County
Yes. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, court records are considered public records and are thus available to the public. The law states that all persons are entitled to complete information regarding government affairs, i.e., the acts and policies of those who represent them as public employees and officials (5 ILCS 140/1).
However, some exemptions exist to the public's access to court records, as explained in 5 ILCS 140 § 7. For example, certain personal identifying information may be redacted from court records to protect privacy, such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth. Additionally, some court records may be sealed by court order, including juvenile court records, adoption records, and cases bearing sensitive information such as trade or national secrets.
What Do Cook County Court Records Contain?
The components of Cook County court records include:
Case Information: This typically consists of the case participants' names, the type of case, the case number, the date the case was filed, the case status, and the court division where the case was filed.
Court Documents: Cook County court records contain a variety of documents related to a particular case, including pleadings, motions, and orders. These documents provide insight into a case's activities, events, and hearings.
Docket Entries: Docket entries are a chronological record of all events during a case. They include important dates such as hearing dates, deadlines for filings, and filed documents.
Case Disposition: This section of the court record outlines the case's outcome. It may include a summary of the judge's decision, settlement agreements, or other relevant information about the case's disposition.
Appeals: If a case is appealed, Cook County court records will contain information about the appeal process, including any documents related to the appeal and the appellate court's decision.
Criminal Records: Cook County court records also contain criminal records, including information about arrests, charges, and convictions. Law enforcement agencies, background check companies, and employers typically use this information to screen an applicant or employee.
Where to Conduct a Cook County Case Lookup
Members of the public in Cook County can conduct a court case lookup or request copies of court records at the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court's Office. The Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the official custodian of all court records in the county. This includes civil, criminal, and traffic case records. The Clerk's Office also maintains an online database of court records, which the public can access to find case information.
How to Conduct a Cook County Court Case Search
As earlier mentioned, conducting a Cook County court case records search involves requesting records from the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Individuals must have the case number or the name of a case party to conduct a court record search through the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Inquirers can search for records on the Clerk's Case Search website or request records at the Clerk's office.
The Clerk's office charges a fee for copies of court records, which varies depending on the number of pages requested. Payment can be made in person, by mail, or online on the Clerk's website.
Cook County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records in Cook County refer to legal documents and information related to civil lawsuits brought to the Cook County courts. These records carry information about the parties involved, their legal representatives, the nature of the dispute, court rulings, and more.
Cook County civil court case records are maintained by the county's Circuit Court Clerk, the official repository of court records for the county.
To obtain Cook County civil court case records, interested parties can visit the Clerk's office during regular working hours or access the Clerk's online case records portal. The online request process entails visiting the Clerk's website and searching the online database with a case number or party name. Users can view case summaries and docket entries and purchase copies of documents online.
In-person requests for Cook County civil court case records can be made at the Clerk's office, which is located at the address below.
50 West Washington
Suite 1001
Chicago, IL 60602-1305
Phone: (312) 603-5030
Cook County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records are official documents detailing the legal proceedings and outcomes of criminal cases in a particular jurisdiction. These records include details such as a defendant's name, charges filed against the defendant, the court case number, hearing dates, sentencing information, and other relevant information related to the case. In Cook County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains criminal court case records.
Cook County criminal court case records can be obtained in person by visiting the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office in downtown Chicago. Requesters should note that getting criminal court case records in person requires providing the case number or party name of their case of interest. If the case is still active or ongoing, only limited information may be available due to privacy concerns.
Also, there may be fees associated with obtaining criminal court case records in Cook County. For example, fees may be charged to photocopy or scan documents, depending on the type and volume of records requested.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants public access to court records. However, the law allows public entities, such as the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, to charge fees for reproducing records (5 ILCS 140/6).
In other words, while access to court records online in Cook County is generally free, there are often fees associated with copying or reproducing the records.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, court records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
Courts in Cook County
The Circuit Court of Cook County is the largest in Illinois and is divided into six divisions:
- The First Municipal District (covers Chicago)
- The Second Municipal District (covers the northern suburbs)
- The Third Municipal District (covers the northwestern suburbs)
- The Fourth Municipal District (covers the western suburbs)
- The Fifth Municipal District (covers the southern suburbs)
- The Sixth Municipal District (covers the southwestern suburbs)
The Circuit Court of Cook County also has specialized court divisions, including the Domestic Violence, Criminal, and Juvenile Justice and Child Protection divisions.
The addresses of the Cook County courts are as follows:
Domestic Violence Court
555 West Harrison Street
Suite 4400
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 325-9000
George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building
2600 South California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: (773) 674-3160
Juvenile Center
2245 West Ogden Avenue
Suite 8004
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 433-4754
Richard J. Daley Center (First Municipal District)
50 West Washington Street
Room 2600
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 603-6000
Second Municipal District – Skokie
5600 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: (847) 470-7200
Third Municipal District - Rolling Meadows
2121 Euclid Avenue
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone: (847) 818-2286
Fourth Municipal District- Maywood
1500 Maybrook Drive
Maywood, IL 60153
Phone: (708) 865-6060
Fifth Municipal District- Bridgeview
10220 South 76th Avenue
Bridgeview, IL 60455
Phone: (708) 974-6288
Sixth Municipal District – Markham
16501 South Kedzie Parkway
Markham, IL 60428
Phone: (708) 232-4170
