Chief Judge Evans announces retired judge to head new office on specialty courts
Released On 07/08/2010
Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced his administration plans to expand the use of specialty courts to rehabilitate nonviolent offenders and that he has appointed retired Associate Judge Lawrence P. Fox to lead the effort.
“Larry Fox has been at the forefront of the introduction of specialty courts in the Circuit Court of Cook County,” said Chief Judge Evans. “In 1998, he established the court’s first specialty court for substance abusing felony offenders, the Rehabilitation Alternative Probation (RAP) program, over which he presided until his recent retirement. He also led the way, in conjunction with Criminal Division Presiding Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr., in the development of the nation’s first felony Mental Health Treatment Court here in Cook County in 2004, where he also presided.”
Chief Judge Evans continued, “As director of Specialty Courts, Judge Fox will be responsible for helping to integrate specialty courts throughout the court system, by expanding existing ones and developing new ones. He will also assist in establishing protocols, training and evaluation to ensure their continued success.”
Sometimes called problem solving courts, specialty courts seek to improve the behavior of offenders and improve public safety at the same time. They are characterized by collaborative planning, a team approach among the legal stakeholders, supervised treatment and, most importantly, oversight and regular hearings before a judge who provides support, incentives and, where necessary, sanctions in an effort to positively impact the behavior of the defendant.
There are currently 12 specialty courts operating throughout the court system as follows:
Veterans’ Court:
- Criminal Division at 26th and California (Chicago)
- Second Municipal District in Skokie (northern Cook County)
- Fourth Municipal District in Maywood (western Cook County)
- Sixth Municipal District in Markham (southern Cook County)
Mental Health Treatment Court
- Criminal Division at 26th and California (Chicago), two separate, dedicated calls, one for men and one for women
- Fourth Municipal District in Maywood (western Cook County)
Prostitution Court
- Fourth Municipal District in Maywood (western Cook County)
Drug Treatment Court
- Fourth Municipal District in Maywood (western Cook County)
- Sixth Municipal District in Markham (southern Cook County)
- Criminal Division at 26th and California (Chicago), RAP Cook County Rehabilitation Alternative Probation substance abuse treatment program
- Youthful Offenders Drug Treatment Court at 26th and California (Chicago)
Appointed an associate judge in October 1986, Judge Fox is a 23-year veteran of the bench. He initially presided over misdemeanor trial and felony preliminary hearings from 1986 to 1996. From 1996 to 1998, he was assigned to the Evening Narcotics Division hearing felony trials, becoming supervising judge of the division in 1997. Prior to his retirement on July 7, 2010, he served as a trial court judge in the Criminal Division at 26th and California while presiding over the Cook County Rehabilitation Alternative Program (RAP) substance abuse treatment program since 1998 and the Mental Health Treatment Court call from 2004 to 2007.
Prior to becoming a judge, Fox served as an assistant public defender in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender from 1976 to 1983; from 1983 to 1986, he engaged in the general practice of law in Oak Park, Illinois. For the past 25 years, he has taught trial advocacy as a member of the Adjunct Faculty at DePaul University College of Law. Earlier this year, he was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning.
Judge Fox received his B.A. from John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1971 and his J.D from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1975. He presents frequently on specialty courts and jury management for numerous organizations, including the Illinois Association of Drug Court Professionals, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the Illinois Judicial Conference.
Judge Fox will begin his new position July 8, 2010. Funding for the director of specialty courts was obtained from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Justice Assistance Grants Program which is administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced his administration plans to expand the use of specialty courts to rehabilitate nonviolent offenders and that he has appointed retired Associate Judge Lawrence P. Fox to lead the effort.
“Larry Fox has been at the forefront of the introduction of specialty courts in the Circuit Court of Cook County,” said Chief Judge Evans. “In 1998, he established the court’s first specialty court for substance abusing felony offenders, the Rehabilitation Alternative Probation (RAP) program, over which he presided until his recent retirement. He also led the way, in conjunction with Criminal Division Presiding Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr., in the development of the nation’s first felony Mental Health Treatment Court here in Cook County in 2004, where he also presided.”
Chief Judge Evans continued, “As director of Specialty Courts, Judge Fox will be responsible for helping to integrate specialty courts throughout the court system, by expanding existing ones and developing new ones. He will also assist in establishing protocols, training and evaluation to ensure their continued success.”
Sometimes called problem solving courts, specialty courts seek to improve the behavior of offenders and improve public safety at the same time. They are characterized by collaborative planning, a team approach among the legal stakeholders, supervised treatment and, most importantly, oversight and regular hearings before a judge who provides support, incentives and, where necessary, sanctions in an effort to positively impact the behavior of the defendant.
There are currently 12 specialty courts operating throughout the court system as follows:
Veterans’ Court:
- Criminal Division at 26th and California (Chicago)
- Second Municipal District in Skokie (northern Cook County)
- Fourth Municipal District in Maywood (western Cook County)
- Sixth Municipal District in Markham (southern Cook County)
Mental Health Treatment Court
- Criminal Division at 26th and California (Chicago), two separate, dedicated calls, one for men and one for women
- Fourth Municipal District in Maywood (western Cook County)
Prostitution Court
- Fourth Municipal District in Maywood (western Cook County)
Drug Treatment Court
- Fourth Municipal District in Maywood (western Cook County)
- Sixth Municipal District in Markham (southern Cook County)
- Criminal Division at 26th and California (Chicago), RAP Cook County Rehabilitation Alternative Probation substance abuse treatment program
- Youthful Offenders Drug Treatment Court at 26th and California (Chicago)
Appointed an associate judge in October 1986, Judge Fox is a 23-year veteran of the bench. He initially presided over misdemeanor trial and felony preliminary hearings from 1986 to 1996. From 1996 to 1998, he was assigned to the Evening Narcotics Division hearing felony trials, becoming supervising judge of the division in 1997. Prior to his retirement on July 7, 2010, he served as a trial court judge in the Criminal Division at 26th and California while presiding over the Cook County Rehabilitation Alternative Program (RAP) substance abuse treatment program since 1998 and the Mental Health Treatment Court call from 2004 to 2007.
Prior to becoming a judge, Fox served as an assistant public defender in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender from 1976 to 1983; from 1983 to 1986, he engaged in the general practice of law in Oak Park, Illinois. For the past 25 years, he has taught trial advocacy as a member of the Adjunct Faculty at DePaul University College of Law. Earlier this year, he was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning.
Judge Fox received his B.A. from John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1971 and his J.D from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1975. He presents frequently on specialty courts and jury management for numerous organizations, including the Illinois Association of Drug Court Professionals, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the Illinois Judicial Conference.
Judge Fox will begin his new position July 8, 2010. Funding for the director of specialty courts was obtained from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Justice Assistance Grants Program which is administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
