The MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT is made up of six districts which geographically divide Cook County as follows:
First Municipal District - City of Chicago
Second Municipal District - northern suburban Cook County
Third Municipal District - northwestern suburban Cook County
Fourth Municipal District - western suburban Cook County
Fifth Municipal District - southwestern suburban Cook County
Sixth Municipal District - southern Cook County
The Chief Judge appoints a Presiding Judge to oversee each district. In addition to hearing cases, Presiding Judges are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the district and the assignment of judges within the district.
The First Municipal District hears cases involving:
- housing
- eviction proceedings
- small claims
- licenses
- misdemeanor criminal proceedings except for those heard in the Domestic Violence Division
- felony preliminary hearings except for those heard in the Domestic Violence Division
- ordinance and traffic enforcement
- contract cases decided by alternative dispute resolution process
- civil suits for damages up to $30,000
- mandatory arbitration (less formal proceeding with three-member panel deciding case) in suits with damages of $30,000 or less
- marriage and civil union court
The Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Municipal Districts hear cases involving:*
- orders of protection
- stalking/civil no contact orders
- housing
- eviction proceedings
- small claims
- licenses
- misdemeanor criminal proceedings
- specialty court for drug treatment in the Fourth Municipal District, Fifth Municipal District and Sixth Municipal District
- specialty court for mental health treatment in the Second Municipal District, Third Municipal District, Fourth Municipal District and Sixth Municipal District
- specialty court for veterans
- felony preliminary hearings
- ordinance and traffic enforcement
- contract cases decided by alternative dispute resolution process
- civil suits for damages up to $100,000
- mandatory arbitration (less formal proceeding with three-member panel deciding case) in suits with damages of $30,000 or less
- name changes
- marriage and civil union court
*The following types of cases are also heard in the municipal district courthouses: felony criminal cases; domestic relations cases; juvenile justice cases; and law division tort cases seeking damages in excess of $100,000.
The municipal district courthouses also have specialty courts that provide mental health treatment, support for veterans, drug treatment, and support for women charged with prostitution. They are also known as problem-solving courts.