Skokie Mental Health Court featured in documentary film to graduate 4 participants; longtime judge to retire
Released On 12/12/2023
The Skokie Mental Health Court, which was featured in an award-winning documentary film, will graduate four participants on Thursday, December 14, at a special ceremony, according to Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.
This will be the final graduation ceremony for the Mental Health Court’s presiding judge, the Hon. Lauren Edidin, who has presided over the court for 12 years and is retiring. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in Room 201 at the Second Municipal District Courthouse, 5600 Old Orchard Road, in Skokie.
In addition to her long service to the Skokie Mental Health Court, Judge Edidin is a member of the Illinois Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning. This Committee was charged with developing standards and a certification process for all problem-solving courts in Illinois. In doing so, the Committee conducted a nationwide study and drafted standards, which the Circuit Court of Cook County adopted in 2015.
“I have been honored to preside over the Mental Health Court call,” said Judge Edidin. “To work with dedicated court personnel, including assistant state’s attorneys, public defenders, probation officers, and case managers, has been the highlight of my career. To preside over Mental Health Court was the most rewarding experience of my life.”
Judge Edidin also thanked Kelly Gallivan-Ilarraza, Director of Problem-Solving Courts, and others with the Office of the Chief Judge for their work with the Mental Health Court team.
“I am so proud of the work Judge Edidin has done with the Mental Health Court in Skokie, and proud of this court’s graduates for the hard work they’ve done to turn around their lives,” said Judge Evans. “Courts like this help to address the underlying problems that lead people into criminal activity, and help graduates have brighter futures.”
The Mental Health Court is an alternative court program for individuals who have committed non-violent offenses and is one of 20 problem-solving courts operating in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Circuit Court’s network of problem-solving courts consists of seven Drug Treatment Courts, seven Mental Health Treatment courts, and six Veterans Treatment Courts located in the Leighton Criminal Courthouse and all five suburban districts. All are certified by the Illinois Supreme Court.
The Mental Health Court program offers support, services, and accountability to help participants readjust to the community and stay away from criminal activity. While in the program, participants regularly appear in court and receive mental health treatment, as well as substance use treatment if needed. The program has established community partnerships to assist participants to locate and obtain housing and other services.
Kathy (last name withheld for privacy), a graduate at the upcoming Skokie ceremony, credited Judge Edidin for being “a huge part of my process.”
“She was an amazing judge, she was not intimidating, she was really humble and amazing,” said Kathy. “I really enjoyed seeing her on a monthly basis, she was really positive.” Kathy also praised her “awesome, very supportive” team, including her probation officer and her National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) case manager.
The Skokie Mental Health Court, Judge Edidin, and three of the court’s past participants were featured in the 2021 documentary “Any Given Day,” directed by Margaret Byrne, which was named best film of Hot Docs 2021 by the Toronto Film Critique Association. It also received an honorable mention for Best International Emerging Filmmaker, and won the Chicago Award for the 57th Chicago International Film Festival.
One of the participants in “Any Given Day” is Daniel Brown, who said that since he graduated he has maintained his own apartment and is working toward owning his own food truck.
“I appreciated the mental health court program because it gave me direction that I was missing in my life and a second chance with opportunities…” Brown said. He said that Judge Edidin “had high expectations of me which was very uplifting, I never expected that from a judge.”
“I had the privilege of observing and filming in Judge Edidin’s mental health court for two years while making the documentary ‘Any Given Day,’” said Margaret Byrne. “I’d never seen a court that operated in a holistic way, providing wrap-around services including mental health treatment and housing. It was remarkable. I witnessed Judge Edidin and her team work with dozens of participants and these services were very often the key to their success... It takes a special judge to preside over a mental health court with such care and understanding. Judge Edidin will be missed.”
Additional information is at https://anygivendayfilm.com. The film will be rebroadcast on 7 p.m., Central Time, on Thursday on the WORLD Channel, with streaming available through PBS Passport. Follow the court on X @CookCntyCourt
