Cook County Domestic Violence Task Force Meeting - May 6, 2026

The Cook County Domestic Violence Task Force met on May 6, 2026, at 9:45 AM. The meeting featured presentations on the role of guardians ad litem (GALs), child representatives, and attorneys for children in domestic relations cases, as well as an update from the Governor State University Legal Clinic. Public testimony highlighted ongoing challenges in the Southland region, including access to justice, financial burdens, and systemic coordination failures.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Calumet City representative: Thanked the task force for legislation addressing domestic violence, noting that the Southland is "hardest hit" and often overlooked. Mentioned that funding and access at the Marshall Courthouse are insufficient to support domestic violence victims.
• Sarah Brown (Southland resident): Expressed concerns about the domestic relations court system, stating her case has been pending for over nine and a half years. She noted that the case was moved from Bridgeview, requiring over an hour of travel, and urged prioritization of accessibility and humane processes.
• Diane Brown (mother/grandmother): Called for accountability for GALs, data production, evaluations, and judicial training and oversight. Stated that the system is "broken" and that her grandson is traumatized.
• Joseph Jones (retired sheriff's superintendent): Disputed the presentation's claim that body attachments for non-payment of GAL fees are rare, stating that in his 30 years of service, both men and women have been held in custody on such orders. He raised concerns about fairness, unclear court orders, and lack of coordination among departments, noting that "the system is broken, and everybody in this room owns a piece of that."
• Brittany Riley (Southland resident): Described victim needs including housing, financial assistance, counseling, medical support, transportation, and supervised visitation. She noted that the crisis center for South Suburbs has limited capacity, creating barriers for children and families.
• Cassandra Taylor Bridges: Shared experiences from volunteering at a domestic violence shelter and emphasized that men also experience abuse. She criticized the public administrator for removing a case from court, which she said allowed violence to go unprosecuted.
• George Blake Moore: Commented on racial assimilation, stating that domestic violence is now occurring in the Black community in ways it did not historically, and urged attention to this trend.

Discussion Items

1. Presentation on Guardians ad Litem, Child Representatives, and Attorneys for Children

Presenter: Hannah Cholinski, Senior Domestic Division Attorney, Office of the Chief Judge.

• Overview: The domestic relations division operates under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA). GALs, child representatives, and attorneys for children are appointed to assist the court in determining the best interest of children, particularly in high-conflict cases. Only 5% of eligible cases (3,484 out of 62,224 filed from 2023 to 2025) have such appointments.
• Roles: GALs are the court's own witnesses, investigate, and make recommendations; child representatives advocate for a position after investigation and have a confidential relationship with the child; attorneys for children provide full legal counsel steered by the child (rarely used).
• Training and Qualifications: Attorneys must have at least five years of family law experience, complete a two-day training (including DV training), and attend ongoing CLEs. The mentorship program pairs new attorneys with experienced practitioners.
• Fees: GAL fees are classified as child support under statute and cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. Pro bono appointments are required annually for court-approved attorneys. Fee waivers are available for litigants who qualify under the federal poverty level (e.g., $33,000 for a family of four).
• Grievances: Litigants can file a motion to discharge the appointed attorney, appeal to the appellate court, or file a complaint with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Committee (ARDC) for attorneys or the Judicial Inquiry Board (JIB) for judges.
• Body Attachments: Cholinski stated that body attachments for non-payment are extremely rare, with only four judges reporting one instance each. She described a typical timeline where a purge order is set and continued for months before any attachment is issued.

Commissioner Questions and Discussion:

• Commissioner Bridget Degnan questioned the financial burden on families, noting that a family of four earning just over $33,000 is ineligible for fee waivers but may face GAL costs of $7,500–$20,000. She urged the task force to engage state legislators to address this.
• Commissioner Miller asked about the grievance process, clarifying that ARDC handles attorney misconduct and JIB handles judicial misconduct, and that complaints are confidential unless they lead to public discipline.
• Commissioner Miller also asked about the process for waiving a written GAL report; litigants can jointly request a waiver, which the judge must confirm on the record.

2. Presentation from Governor State University Legal Clinic

Presenter: Dr. Phyllis West, Founding Director.

• Clinic Overview: The clinic opened in June 2023, providing pro bono legal services in family law, housing, immigration, and expungement. It serves hundreds of community members, primarily from Cook County, with two part-time attorneys and three pro bono attorneys. Social work interns and faculty provide support, addressing mental health and psychosocial barriers.
• Observed Gaps in Southland: Dr. West identified a lack of "radical hospitality" at the Markham Courthouse, where people feel unsafe and intimidated. She noted a shortage of court advocates and visitation centers (only one in the area). She emphasized the need for a public health lens, prioritizing suburbs, and establishing an alliance for coordinated services.
• Recommendations: Use a public health lens to address root causes; fund education on healthy relationships; increase access to child visitation service centers; and create a Southland alliance to avoid service duplication and ensure warm handoffs.

Commissioner Questions:

• Commissioner Miller asked about the biggest gap at the Markham Courthouse; Dr. West cited rude treatment and lack of safety, as well as insufficient court advocates.
• Commissioner Miller inquired about visitation centers; Dr. West confirmed only one exists and that police stations are not appropriate for child exchanges.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or directives were taken. The task force received the presentations and public testimony for consideration.
• Commissioner Degnan suggested that the discussion on GAL fee structures and waivers should involve state legislative representatives to explore statutory changes.
• The task force acknowledged the need for continued collaboration to address gaps in the Southland, including improving courthouse hospitality, expanding pro bono services, and increasing coordination among agencies.
• The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:30 AM.