PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Judge Evans announces Annual Black History Month Courthouse Tours

Released On 01/17/2006

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced the Annual Black History Month Courthouse Tours of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, will be offered on Wednesday, February 15, 2006, through Friday, February 17, 2006, and the following week from Tuesday, February 21, 2006, through Friday, February 24, 2006.

"I thank the court’s tour co-sponsors, the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., the Cook County Bar Association, and the Illinois Judicial Council, for their dedication and commitment in helping us to meet public demand for this event," said Chief Judge Evans.

The tours offer the public a sense of the day-to-day operations of one of the nation’s largest unified court systems. Tour highlights include visiting a courtroom to observe a trial in progress, meeting with a judge of the Circuit Court for an informal presentation, and the opportunity to meet with bar association representatives. Tour participants also receive a copy of the court's information guide which outlines the structure of the Circuit Court of Cook County, explains the basics of trial proceedings, and includes a directory of court and county services.

The Annual Circuit Court of Cook County Black History Month Courthouse Tours are part of the court’s year-round Community Heritage Month Courthouse Tour series which combines public education activities with national and local observances marking racial and ethnic diversity. Tours are also held during Arab Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month, Italian Heritage Month, Polish Heritage Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and Puerto Rican Heritage Day. The tours have been attended by thousands of Cook County residents.

Individuals or groups planning on attending the Annual Circuit Court of Cook County Black History Month Courthouse Tours may contact Melanie Wheeler, the court’s African American Community Liaison, at 312.603.3587, or the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Public Affairs Office at 312.603.1927 on or before Thursday, February 9, 2006. Tours are limited to persons age ten and older, with a maximum of 35 persons to a group. Reservations are recommended. The tours will depart at 10 a.m. from the Daley Center’s west lobby located on the Randolph and Clark Streets side of the building.

For more information about courthouse tours and other programs and services of the Circuit Court of Cook County, visit www.cookcountycourt.org.