PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Judge O'Connell embarks on second year of courthouse tours commemorating Black History Month

Released On 01/11/2001

Chief Judge Donald P. O'Connell announced today the Circuit Court of Cook County will hold the Second Annual Circuit Court of Cook County Black History Month Courthouse Tours on February 6, 7 and 8, 2001. Tours of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, will depart at 10:00 a.m. from the building's west lobby. Cosponsoring the tours are the Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., the Cook County Bar Association and the Illinois Judicial Council.

"The Circuit Court of Cook County's Black History Month Courthouse Tours are excellent opportunities for the court to welcome members of Cook County's diverse community to learn about the trial process and workings of the court. The tours also present additional opportunities to work with Cook County's racial and ethnic organizations towards our common goal to increase minority access to the court," said Chief Judge O'Connell.

Since their inception in May 1999, the tours have been enthusiastically received by the public with hundreds of community members of all ages participating. Other heritage month tours presented in the series include programs celebrating Arab Heritage Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Italian Heritage Month and National Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month. Last year's inaugural Black History Month courthouse tours drew record numbers with more than 300 attendees participating.

Highlights of the tour include a viewing of the court's juror orientation video and a visit to a courtroom to observe a trial in progress. Tour participants will also have the opportunity to meet with a Circuit Court judge for an informal presentation. Attendees receive a resource folder on the Circuit Court, which includes an informative guide to the court's divisions, programs and services, as well as a directory of Cook County resources.

Individuals or groups planning on attending one of the Second Annual Circuit Court of Cook County Black History Month Courthouse Tours may contact the Circuit Court of Cook County's African American community liaisons, Melanie Wheeler at (312) 603-3587 or Kelly Callaway at (312) 603-4294 by February 1, 2001.

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