Cook County Domestic Violence Task Force Working Group Meeting - April 22, 2026

This was a working group meeting of the Cook County Domestic Violence Task Force, convened to discuss the differences between Domestic Relations (DR) and Domestic Violence (DV) divisions, service of orders of protection, coordination between courts, and available resources for survivors. Presentations were given by staff from the Office of the Chief Judge (OCJ). The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Donna Miller.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were listed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Presentation on Domestic Relations vs. Domestic Violence Divisions: Kate Nolan (Director of Legal Research, OCJ) and Hannah Fearley (Chief of Staff to Commissioner Gator) provided an overview of the key differences between the two divisions. They explained that DR is a civil division handling divorce, custody, and parenting time, while DV handles criminal cases. DR hears civil orders of protection only when they are connected to a pending DR case. Since 2024, DR judges have received domestic violence training. Service of DR EOPs can occur in open court or by the sheriff's office if the respondent is not present. Judges are strictly prohibited from investigating cases on their own due to ethical canons; they must only consider information presented in court.
• Coordination Between DV and DR: A so-called exchange program exists since 2022 to coordinate emergency OPs (EOPs) when a DR case is pending, ensuring the judge familiar with the case hears the EOP. Violations of orders of protection (VOOPs) are criminal matters handled by the state's attorney at the DV courthouse.
• Karina's Law and Search Warrants: Commissioner Miller's Director of Policy, Brian CC, asked a question about search warrants under Karina's Law. Hannah Fearley explained that Karina's Law has both a civil and criminal section for search warrants, with the civil version requiring a different (civil) probable cause standard. The search warrant and EOP are intended to be served concurrently to maintain the element of surprise and officer safety. The delay in serving the EOP is typically no more than about 120 hours, during which the EOP remains in effect.
• Service of Orders of Protection: Fearley stated that service records show approximately 95% of civil OPs in DR are served, with the remaining 5% typically involving out-of-state respondents. This clarification was given in response to concerns about service data.
• Resources for Survivors: Discussion centered on what resources can be provided in DR court. Hannah Fearley and Kate Nolan emphasized that judges cannot give legal advice or referrals to specific providers due to ethical rules. They provide a handout listing general legal aid resources such as CARPLS, Illinois Court Help, and Illinois Legal Aid Online. Commissioner Miller noted that the Board of Commissioners has funded court advocates and navigators through the state's attorney's office and via grants through the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC). Madeline Baer (Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence) explained that legal aid attorneys are preferred in DR due to the complexity of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, and that funding remains a challenge. Katie Dunn (Chicago 77) raised concerns about the drop-off of services when cases move from DV to DR.
• Court Reporting in DR: Hannah Fearley outlined that only two types of hearings require a court reporter in DR: in-camera interviews of children and default proof hearings. They attempt to have a court reporter for EOPs, but the court reporter's office is understaffed due to retirements and a lack of new recruits. All EOPs are recorded via Zoom, and transcripts can be provided for a fee, though fee waivers are available.

Key Outcomes

• The presenters (Fearley and Nolan) agreed to send the slide deck and the DR court handout to Amy Malinaski (Director of Outreach, Commissioner Miller's office) for distribution to the working group.
• Fearley will also send the specific statutes or Illinois Supreme Court rules regarding court reporting requirements to Commissioner Miller and Brian CC, which Amy will forward to the group.
• The next executive meeting of the task force is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (note: the date appears to be before the meeting's date of April 22, 2026; this may be a typo in the transcript) at 10:00 AM in the Cook County Boardroom (in person). Details for other working group meetings will be emailed.
• The meeting was adjourned.