Cook County Public Defenders - Latest Comments

Re: Robert E. Lee

John C. Greenlees — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:11:42 -0000

Truly an outstanding guy. My condolences to his family and the office.

Re: Robert E. Lee

Marienne Branch — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:41:36 -0000

Thank you, kfs. That is truly who he was - the epitomy of a criminal defense lawyer who set a standard for which we can but strive (sorry to paraphrase what you said, but what else is there to say about him?).

Bob, we'll miss you. My condolences to the family.

Re: Robert E. Lee

kfs — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:20:52 -0000

Bob was the PD's PD - the gold standard to which we all aspire. A singular advocate and human being, who bled PD blue.

(from Jim Dorherty, Former Public Defender Cook County)

Every now and then I get down and then I look up at the board over my desk and I see this:

Defender's Credo

I am a Public Defender.
I am the guardian of the presumption of innocence, due process and fair trial.
To me is entrusted the preservation of those sacrecd principles.
I will promulgate them with courtesy and respect.
But not with obsequiousness and not with fear,
for I am partisan;I am counsel for the defense.

Let none who oppose me forget that with every fiber of my being,
I will fight for my clients.

My clients are the indigent accused.
They are the lonely, the friendless.
There is no one to speak for them, but me.
My voice will be raised in their defense.
I will resolve all doubt in their favor.

This is my credo; this and the Golden rule.
I will seek acclaim and approval only from my own conscience.

And if upon my death there are a few lonely people who have benefitted, my efforts will not have been in vain.

Re: Alissa Neuman Captures 30th Jack Carey Scholarship

Marienne Branch — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:43:40 -0000

Wow! What a girl! Congatulations & hooray (hooray to us for having her)!

Re: Cook County Public Defenders Blog

Mariennebranch — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:16:01 -0000

Magnificent!

Re: The Larry Marquardt Scholarship Now Open for Applications

Lennora Burnom — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:57:51 -0000

Lennora Burnom: I would like an application for the Marquardt Scholarship.

Thanks

Re: Assistant Public Defender, Martha Marie Fitzsimmons (1952-2010).

Nancy Hess — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:49:52 -0000

I am Martha's former massage therapist and had no idea she was even ill. Could you or someone please tell me what happened, how she died? I was shocked to find this post.

Thank you.

Re: A Pair of Winners from the Illinois Supreme Court

Mariennebranch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:38:28 -0000

Thanks & bless you for those clear comments!

Re: Assistant Public Defender, Martha Marie Fitzsimmons (1952-2010).

Labpdkatn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:31:45 -0000

I cannot tell you the impact this wonderful person had on my life and my career. She is the paragon of virtue.

Re: Jason Lee wins 29th Jack Carey Memorial Scholarship

Marienne Branch — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:50:21 -0000

Awesome! Congratulations! Good luck in the future! Merry Christmas!

Re: Show Support for Brothers and Sisters: Attend or Sign up to Speak at the Cook County Budget Hearings

Paul D. Bellendir — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:07:52 -0000

I agree with you Monique-put up or shut up. We should act like the fighters we are-the only difference is the forum. How can we call ourselves attorneys when we can't represent our own interest!! Now is not the time for whinning, now is the time for action. Anyone can complain but it takes a special breed to stand up for the underdog. We are that breed. Think of the hear as representing a client who is getting jacked around by the system. We do this everyday. How should this be different? The Board members are just another jury to practice our legal craft. They won't bit so give them a piece of your mind. As a former politician, I can say that most board members actually want to do the right thing but it takes alittle hard nose persuasion to see an issue differently than there leader. They need our help to make the right decision.

Re: Oppose President P’s Budget Proposal!

Stand Up! — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:47:50 -0000

Is there anything in their about PDs having to work full time? I think we can weather the layoffs as long as we can to get to work and leave when we want. I'm tired after playing sodoku and checking facebook all day in court!

Re: Let’s Rally in Springfield on October 26, 2011

cvette — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:04:38 -0000

Aren't we glad the city, state and county are run by "progressive" Democrats?

Re: Show Support for Brothers and Sisters: Attend or Sign up to Speak at the Cook County Budget Hearings

Monique Patteron — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:36 -0000

Now is the time to put up or shut up. I attended hearings at Skokie and Markham last time. If the majority of us attended at least one hearing it would send a strong message to the County Board. I hope to see you there.

Re: Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with County

Bargaining Committee Chairman — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:19:47 -0000

The specifics are in line with what was sent to the membership via email burst on 9/20/2011 and 6/30/2011. Additonal details will be available on Thursday at the meetings. The Council is preparing the summary which recounts the details of nearly 30 bargaining sessions over the last 3 years. Council 31 staff and a board member from the Local should be at each voting site to answer any questions that you have. Once your questions, if any, are answered, you can vote up or down on the tentative agreement. The Committee believes the terms deserve a YES vote, or we wouldn't bring it to the membership.

Re: Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with County

Angie Kilpatrick — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:39:15 -0000

That's exactly my question which Julie posed: can we get in writing the specifics of the tentative agreement before the vote on Thursday, cause most folks don't know the specifics...

Re: Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with County

Julie Koehler — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:17:21 -0000

Any word on specifics? Can we get a rundown prior to Thursday? Thank you.

Re: Castaways Party Information

Justice Cardozo — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:36:16 -0000

Bounced checks are a Himel violation!!!!!
ROTFLMAO!!!!

Re: Ashley Petrey wins the 28th Jack Carey Scholarship

Justice Cardozo — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:35:20 -0000

Ashley is a "LAW" Law Clerk!!!

Re: Ashley Petrey wins the 28th Jack Carey Scholarship

Bruce Mosbacher — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:11:23 -0000

Jack would approve!

Re: Yelling “Dro, Dro” at a drug spot not probable cause.

Local 3315 — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:38:56 -0000

Thanks for helping keep us up-to-date on the law, Dan. With a split among the divisions, and dissents on each panel, Grant and Neal are surely headed to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Re: Yelling “Dro, Dro” at a drug spot not probable cause.

Dan Walsh — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:52:38 -0000

but see People v. Neal, No. 1-09-2814, June 29, 2011 (3rd Division), making a petition for leave to appeal even more likely in the Grant case.

Re: YOUR Retirement Benefits are Safe

No Justice — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:13:58 -0000

Legal challenges to cuts in retiree's COLAs in Colorado and Minnesota have been dismissed according to the NY Times. Not sure but the difference for us might be that our COLA is actually part of our pension agreement in that we pay .5% yearly for our annual COLA upon retirement. Some folks do not and never have paid for their COLAs. Hence, in those states COLAs are viewed as non-monetary, non-contractual, non-pension obligations.

Re: Save these dates

Bruce Mosbacher — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:32:30 -0000

@ Trouble

You are too kind. 23 PD + 7 OSAD = 30 + optional = Private Practice.

Re: Save these dates

Trouble — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:55:54 -0000

bruce, 23 years? are you old enough to retire??