Located at 555 West Harrison Street in Chicago, the Domestic Violence Courthouse opened in 2005.

The courthouse is an environmentally-friendly building which was awarded the Silver LEEDS Certification in 2007.

Safety was foremost in the design of the Domestic Violence Courthouse which features:

• victim-only elevators
• secured victim waiting rooms for each courtroom
• a safe and supportive environment in which to complete court documents
• a screening area for litigants to speak to the Assistant States Attorneys in private
• a secure childcare area

Tours
Tours of the Domestic Violence Courthouse are offered to children in 9th grade and up and adults, from 9 a.m. – 12 noon, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:

• offered when court is in session
• limited to persons age 13 (ninth grade) and older
• no more than 20 persons to a group, including teachers and chaperones
• includes an overview of the judicial system and visits to both civil and criminal courtrooms
• opportunity to ask questions at the conclusion of court proceedings, based on the availability of the judge

Tours feature a visit to a Domestic Violence Division courtroom where criminal and civil cases are heard.  Court proceedings that may be observed include:

• petitions for orders of protection
• bond hearings
• return hearings on orders of protection

Reservations are required.  Because dates fill up quickly, schools and organizations are encouraged to book tours several weeks or months in advance of their preferred dates to ensure availability.  Inquire about prohibited items when making reservations.

To book a tour: Call the Presiding Judge’s Office at (312) 325-9000.