OFF THE RECORD
Iris Y. Martinez,
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
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MAKING HISTORY:
Women's Privacy Initiative
We are so excited to make the historic announcement of the Women’s Privacy Initiative. In 2022, Madam Clerk Martinez spearheaded legislation to safeguard the privacy of women who have been victims of violent sexual acts. Building on these efforts, Clerk Iris Martinez is now introducing an initiative to seal and safeguard ALL records containing women's reproductive health matters. Too often, reproductive health and fertility treatment matters are discussed in open courtrooms, creating public records with private information. We must ensure reproductive health remains a private matter, and that details discussed in courtrooms around Cook County may never be held against women, criminally or civilly, in another state or in the uncertain future. Thank you to all the organizations who joined us, including Women's Bar Association of Illinois, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Life Span, WINGS Program, Inc., Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home), and AHA Foundation. Visit our YouTube page for more videos.
EXPUNGEMENT: Train the Trainer
On March 8th, we had the pleasure of hosting our inaugural Train the Trainer session, an event designed to empower our community leaders with vital information. At this event we witnessed our esteemed legal partners from CGLA share their expertise on the crucial topics of expunging and sealing records. The involvement from our community partners is what makes these events so enriching and impactful. Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that we will be hosting another session in May. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to bring this valuable event to our community once more, building on the positive momentum and continuing to support our leaders with the resources they need.
NEW HIRES
We are excited to announce that our office has recently welcomed a fantastic group of new members eager to contribute their unique talents and perspectives to our team. With their diverse backgrounds and experiences, we are confident they will bring fresh ideas and innovative solutions. We are thrilled about all the amazing things we'll achieve together and can't wait to embark on this exciting journey. Please join us in welcoming our new members to the team!
CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK'S DAY
Here are some of our colleagues decked out in green, sharing laughter and good times in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. It's moments like these that remind us of the importance of community and celebration.
CAN-TV: Clerk in the Community, Domestic Violence
AROUND TOWN
Our office has been incredibly active over the last month, with our staff members spreading the word about the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office throughout Cook County. Through our "Around Town" newsletter segment, you'll see that we've connected with a wide range of individuals and organizations, sharing information about our resources and services. From community events and town hall meetings to local resources fairs and festivals, we've been out and about, engaging with the public and ensuring everyone knows how our office can assist. It's been exciting and rewarding, and we're looking forward to continuing to serve the people of Cook County in the months ahead. Here are just some of the places we have been...
MARCH 2: Clerk's in the Community Team were at Mientras Haya Amor Hay Esperanza - Little Village Boxing & Community Center.
MARCH 6: Our team spent the afternoon at Triton College's Spring Job Fair
MARCH 6: Thank you to Woodson Regional Library for welcoming us to their resource fair.
MARCH 8: Our team spent the morning at the Chicago Vet Center to celebrate and honor Women Veterans at their Fabulous and Fatigues event!
MARCH 13: Our team spent some time with the West Town Senior Center in an informational Q&A and Super BINGO!
MARCH 15: The Public Information team joined the Veteran’s Celebration of Life event at the Arthur Lockhart Resource Institute, providing resources and assisting the veteran community.
MARCH 16: Headed out to BUILD, on the West Side, with New Leaf to provide information about evictions, expungements/sealing records, and warrants, as well as connect with the community.
MARCH 16: Our team was at the Pact Act Claims Clinic for Veterans at the Copernicus Center.
MARCH 16: We headed out to the 30th Ward with Alderperson Ruth Cruz at Steinmetz HS to provide information about evictions, expungements/sealing records, and warrants, as well as connect with the community.
MARCH 18: Thank you to the River Grove Senior Community for the invitation and warm welcome to their Senior Luncheon.
MARCH 21: Our team went to the Oak Techapalooza IT Job Fair at Oakton College Prep.
MARCH 27: We headed out to Prairie State College Career Services.
MARCH 28: We attended the Chicago Cook Workforce's Spring Career / Job Resource Fair.
MARCH 30: We headed out to Malcom X College for the Women Veteran Town Hall Resource and Career Fair.
CONGRATULATIONS!
We are thrilled to extend our warmest congratulations to Phyllis Manley, a dedicated Office Clerk at our Maywood Courthouse, on her outstanding achievement of receiving her MBA from the University of Phoenix. Phyllis's commitment to personal growth and professional development is truly inspiring. We are proud to have Phyllis as a part of our team! Please join us in celebrating Phyllis's success and supporting her in her continued journey of excellence.
Customer Service at it's Best
We are thrilled to spotlight Ms. Shanell Lofton from the Law Division for her exceptional dedication and support in assisting a ProSe Litigant. Ms. Lofton has consistently received verbal accolades for her outstanding work ethic, a testament to her commitment to excellence and service. The recent accolades highlighted in an attached email further underscore the invaluable role she plays within our team.
Ms. Lofton's efforts not only reflect her professional capabilities but also her compassionate approach to helping those navigating the complexities of the legal system. As an asset to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, we are immensely proud to commend Ms. Lofton for the fantastic job she continues to do, embodying the very essence of our mission to provide resources and support to our community. Her dedication is a shining example for all, and we are fortunate to have her as part of our team.

"To: Ms. L.G. Wimberly 
From: Tori Nicholson
Re: Ms. Shanell Lofton

Good Morning, Ms. Wimberly,

My name is Tori Nicholson, and I am a Pro Se Litigant in the Law Division. I had some filing issues via Odyssey, and was, quite frankly, more than a little frustrated. I left a message, never expecting it to go any further. I was most pleasantly surprised when I received a phone call first thing this morning from Ms. Shanell Lofton. 

Ms. Lofton was courteous, kind, and went above and beyond every single step of the way, in a manner that indicates to me that this is her norm - to go above and beyond. She patiently walked me through the process, mitigated any systemic shortcomings, and all of my errors. She did all the necessary troubleshooting, while simultaneously teaching me the process, so that I would be able to handle my future filings. Her knowledge of and competence with the system, her subject matter, and job objectives were obvious, and superlative. 

Ms. Lofton was outstanding during our entire transaction, from start to finish. She made sure I understood everything from system requirements to the intricacies of getting filed in the most expedient way. I cannot let this day go on without taking a moment to recognize her outstanding customer service, and to once again, express my gratitude for her patience, help, courtesy, and kindness! I had the impression that I was dealing with a person who really loved her job! That makes all the difference in the world. Please give my commendation to Ms. Shanell Lofton for her absolutely outstanding client service and acumen! If there is a promotion opportunity available, or any accolades she might receive, please do not hesitate to consider this the recommendation of a satisfied client that she receive it! 

Many thanks to Ms. Shanell Lofton for being amazing!

Best Regards,

Tori 
CIRCUIT COURT CLERKS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, UPCOMING EVENTS
For more information, click HERE.
For more
Wednesday 4/3:
Veteran to Careers-Military & Civilians Resource Fair
Shine Bright Community Center
8560 S Cottage Grove
Chicago IL 60619
10 am - 2 pm

Thursday, 4/4:
Ada S Niles- Englewood Senior Center
653 W 63rd St.
Chicago, IL 60621
10 am - 2 pm

Friday, 4/5:
Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County-Resource Fair
1100 S Hamilton Ave. Suite C-011
Chicago IL 60612
10 am - 3 pm

Tuesday, 4/9:
2024 Pathways to Cook County Summit
UIC Dorin Forum
725 W Roosevelt Rd
Chicago, IL 60608
9 am - 3 pm

Saturday, 4/13:
Latino Health & Resource Fair
Instituto del Progreso Latino
2520 S Western Ave.
Chicago IL 60608
9 am - 1 pm

Monday, 4/15:
CPD: Crime Victim Services Resource Fair
3510 S Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60653
12 pm - 7 pm

Tuesday, 4/16:
Clerk in the Community Hosted
Teamwork Englewood
815 W 63rd St., Ste.#2
Chicago IL 60621
11 am - 3 pm

Saturday, 4/27:
Alzheimer's Association of IL-2nd Annual African American Conference
7621 S Greenwood Ave.
Chicago IL 60619
10 am - 2 pm

Saturday, 4/27:
African Caribbean Diaspora
Howard Street Carnaval
7653 N Paulina
Chicago, IL 60626
11 am - 5 pm


To learn more about these events, email [email protected]
A Message from
Human Resources...
Dear CCC Employees, 
 
Please take a moment to review your MetLife insurance beneficiary information. 
 
What is a beneficiary and what should I consider when choosing my beneficiary?
A beneficiary is the person or entity who receives the life insurance proceeds upon the death of the insured. You can select any beneficiary you wish other than your employer, and you may change your beneficiary at any time. You should periodically review your life insurance beneficiary designation to be sure the information is correct and up to date.
 
To log in to your MetLife account and review your beneficiary information visit: 
 
For questions about your life insurance policy or other employee benefits please contact Risk Management:
Phone: 312-603-6385 or 
Email at [email protected].
Human Resources reminds employees to review and use the Employee Handbook and the Supplemental Policies Manual available online. Both can be found at these links:
 
Also, the Cook County Ethics Ordinance requires all Cook County officials and employees to abide by a Code of Conduct which sets forth general directives to ensure fair and honest government in Cook County. The Code of Ethical Conduct applies to officials, employees, persons doing or seeking to do business with the County, persons regulated by the County, and persons seeking official action by the County. Both the Cook County Ethics Ordinance and the Cook County Board of Ethics Rules & Regulations can be found at the Cook County Board of Ethics WWW Page:
APRIL DATES TO REMEMBER
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Discover the Buzz Under the Picasso!
Known as a bustling hub of activity, Daley Plaza offers a dynamic lineup of events that cater to all tastes and interests. From captivating cultural festivals and lively music concerts to seasonal markets and unique public art displays, there's always something new and exciting to discover. Don't miss out on the buzz! Click on the photo below to view the Daley Center's Calendar.
FREE MUSEUM DAYS IN CHICAGO
For more information on Free Museum Days in Chicago, click here.
EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTED SHOE REPAIR
Conveniently located on the corner of Clark and Madison, Serrano's Shoe Repair has been operating in Downtown Chicago for over 100 years. With pick-up/drop-off services, Serrano Shoe Repair also offers employees of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County 15% off services. For pricing estimates, please contact Ricardo Serrano at Serrano Shoe Repair at (773) 320-3252.
SerOriginal Price
Please follow our monthly newsletter for more information about Serrano Shoe Services.

Here are some of their discount services:
EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTED PARKING
EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTED 
DOWNTOWN PARKING RATE
Employees of the Clerk of the Circuit Court are eligible for a discounted monthly rate with in and out privileges and a discounted daily rate. For this offer visit the InterPark website at www.iparkit.com. Register with your Cook County Court email address and use promo code CCS000. If you have any questions contact Glenn Mingay at InterPark Parking at
312-599-2787. For more information visit https://www.iparkit.com/home
Do you have some information you want to see in our next newsletter?
Let us know!
Space is limited, but we would love to know what you have
going on in your courthouse, department, or division.
 
Content for May is due April 22, 2024

Email Cesar Rolon at [email protected]