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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 2d

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Injustice Watch @injusticewatch.org · 2d

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Reposted by Maya Dukmasova

Dan Hinkel @danhinkel.bsky.social · 5d

CPD rehired Forberg as a criminal intelligence research specialist after he retired as a detective. His sometimes-partner, John Foster, remains a commander of detectives. Supt. Larry Snelling declined to discuss those facts.

Forberg also quit a small suburban department after I asked about the job.

Injustice Watch @injusticewatch.org · 6d

State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke has failed to systematically review cases involving former Chicago police Detective Brian Forberg, despite more than a dozen allegations of coercion against him and his partners. Copublished with @boltsmag.org:

Cook County’s new prosecutor has weakened an already broken system for freeing the innocent

State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Conviction Integrity Unit hasn’t exonerated anyone in her 10 months on the job, and she has done little to confront more than a dozen coercion allegations…

buff.ly

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 6d

This despite a known cohort of cases tied to a single Chicago detective known for coercion, witness manipulation, and other abuses in two dozen murder cases

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 6d

My colleague @danhinkel.bsky.social found that not a single person has been exonerated with the help of the "conviction integrity unit" under the new Cook County State's Attorney

Injustice Watch @injusticewatch.org · 7d

Eileen O'Neill Burke made it harder for people to have their innocence claims investigated by the Cook County Conviction Integrity Unit — one of several ways her office is weakening review of wrongful convictions. Read the latest from us and @boltsmag.org:

Cook County’s new prosecutor has weakened an already broken system for freeing the innocent

State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Conviction Integrity Unit hasn’t exonerated anyone in her 10 months on the job, and she has done little to confront more than a dozen coercion allegations…

buff.ly

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Reposted by Maya Dukmasova

Injustice Watch @injusticewatch.org · 15d

Senior reporter Maya Dukmasova's recent investigation of a UIC crime lab involved submitting more than 45 FOIA request, reviewing more than 8k pages of documents, and interviewing more than 50 people. If you've got questions or want to learn more about her process, join us on Reddit! buff.ly/BnaI0DC

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 16d

New this morning: a Cook County judge with a history of alleged inappropriate physical conduct with colleagues has been reassigned after a clerk accused her of battery

www.injusticewatch.org/judges/judic...

Cook County judge previously accused of ‘unwanted touching’ reassigned after clerk alleges battery

Judge Ruth Gudino was reassigned from a domestic violence courtroom in Markham after a clerk accused her of pushing him. The sheriff’s office said the allegation was unfounded.

www.injusticewatch.org

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Reposted by Maya Dukmasova

Injustice Watch @injusticewatch.org · 28d

Charles Beach, 55, was elected Cook County chief judge this evening, defeating 24-year incumbent Timothy Evans. He’ll take over control over a vast court bureaucracy as well as judicial assignments when his term starts Dec. 1. Story by @mdoukmas.bsky.social. www.injusticewatch.org/judges/court...

Charles Beach elected Cook County chief judge

Beach will be Cook County’s first new chief judge in 24 years, after defeating eight-term incumbent Timothy Evans.

www.injusticewatch.org

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

You can find out more about him here:
www.injusticewatch.org/judges/court...

What’s at stake in the race for Cook County chief judge

Incumbent Timothy Evans has served for 24 years, already the longest of any chief judge in Cook County history. Two challengers are vying for control of a court system that gavels in half a million ne...

www.injusticewatch.org

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

You can find out a bit about his pitch here. www.injusticewatch.org/judges/court...

What’s at stake in the race for Cook County chief judge

Incumbent Timothy Evans has served for 24 years, already the longest of any chief judge in Cook County history. Two challengers are vying for control of a court system that gavels in half a million ne...

www.injusticewatch.org

Reposted by Maya Dukmasova

Kelly Garcia @kellygarcia.bsky.social · 28d

This will have strong political implications for the Cook County juvenile detention center, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Chief Judge. The current superintendent was appointed by Evans in 2015 and, to the bewilderment of many, kept around despite persistent concerns about his leadership.

Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

BEAKING NEWS: COOK COUNTY HAS A NEW CHIEF JUDGE - Charles Beach

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

Story to come at @injusticewatch.org !

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

BEAKING NEWS: COOK COUNTY HAS A NEW CHIEF JUDGE - Charles Beach

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

Applause can be heard from somewhere in the depths of the spaces we can't see. Is it possible we have a decision...

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

It's been 2.5 hours and still no decision. Not clear what round of voting we're on. Ballots seem to be counted in the empty courtroom continuously... The Chief Judge's communications staff has no idea what's going on either.

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

According to one judge who just wandered out for a breath of fresh air, the judges are packed like sardines inside the jury assembly room so that everyone can hear the candidates' speeches. She didn't take kindly to being photographed and quickly left after I introduced myself

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

The votes are being counted in a nearby courtroom. Through the tinted glass I can see nine people involved in the process. The ballot boxes appear to be large cardboard boxes labeled "BALLOT BOX"

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

It appears one round of voting has concluded, a lot more people are milling around behind the glass doors that lead to the voting room. No word yes about the result

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

Members of Judge Evans's inner circle, longtime staff some of whom have worked for the court system since the 1970s, are sitting and standing around a small foyer outside the jury assembly room where the vote is taking place. These folks have to be nervous about their jobs if Evans loses

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

Yes so it's gotta be a majority of the voters present

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

The vote is done by paper ballot. Each of the 263 judges have to write in the name of their desired candidate and personally deposit it into the ballot box. If no one gets the majority of votes rounds of voting will continue until the election is decided.

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

All the judges are inside now and it's quiet in the hallway, except for the occasional attorneys and litigants ambling by.

Inside the room we can't see there will be nominating speeches for each of the three candidates by their peers, then speeches from the candidates themselves, then the vote

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

Evans, 82, has also been in public office for 52 years, beginning as alderman of the 4th ward in 1973. He was elected judge from the 5th subcircuit in 1992.

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

A bit of history as most of the judges seem to have trickled in and we wait for the doors to a room we can't see to close.

Evans is only the 4th chief judge in the court's history, which was unified as the circuit court of cook county in 1964. All three of his predecessors were white Irish men

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

Dozens of judges are arriving and checking in before the vote. Everyone is dressed in civilian garb, no robes!

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Maya Dukmasova @mdoukmas.bsky.social · 28d

We have been authorized to photograph only this part of the hallway. The judges don't want themselves, the area where they vote, and any part of the process seen!

The chief judge isn't just the judges' boss, he's also in charge of the county's third largest workforce - nearly 3,000 people.

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