PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Judge Evans announces date for court's annual Puerto Rican Heritage Week Courthouse Tour

Released On 05/29/2002

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced the Annual Circuit Court of Cook County Puerto Rican Heritage Week Courthouse Tour will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2002, at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street in Chicago. Joining the Circuit Court of Cook County in cosponsoring the tour is the Puerto Rican Bar Association.

"The heritage tour series underscores the court's commitment to increasing minority access to the court," said Chief Judge Evans. "One sure way in which we increase that access is to provide residents of Cook County's ethnic and minority communities with a firsthand opportunity to expand their knowledge of court facilities, personnel, and procedures," said Chief Judge Evans.

Highlights of the Puerto Rican Heritage Week Courthouse Tour include a visit to the Jury Assembly Room, a visit to a courtroom to observe a trial in progress, and a meeting with a judge for an informal presentation. 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 guide will be provided in English and also in Spanish.

The Circuit Court of Cook County Puerto Rican Heritage Week Courthouse Tour is 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. Initiated in 1999, the tour series are also held during Arab Heritage Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Black History Month, Italian Heritage Month, and Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month. The tours have been attended by hundreds of Cook County residents.

Individuals and groups planning on attending the Puerto Rican Heritage Week Courthouse Tour may contact the Circuit Court of Cook County's Public Affairs Office at (312) 603-1927 on or before June 18, 2002. The tour will depart at 10:00 a.m. from the Daley Center's west lobby located on the Clark Street side.

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