Dorothy Brown: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: ChicagoWebsite: http://www.friendsofdorothybrown.org/Office sought: Cook Clerk of the Circuit CourtAge: 59Family: Married, one childOccupation: Clerk of the Circuit Court and attorneyEducation: Chicago-Kent College of Law, Juris Doctorate, December 1995; DePaul University, Master of Business Administration Finance, 1981; Certified Public Accountant, February 1977; Southern University, Bachelor's Degree; Accounting/Computer Science, BaCivic involvement: ? Chair -- Cook County Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Committee -- Chair Outreach Committee -- Illinois Integrated Justice Information Systems Implementation Board -- Founder and Chairman -- Dorothy Brown Scholarship Community Development Fund -- President -- Urban Ministries, First Jurisdiction of Illinois COGIC -- Past President -- National Women's Political Caucus of Greater Chicago -- Past Treasurer -- Working in the School, Chicago Public Schools -- Past Treasurer - Illinois and American Institutes for Certified Public Accountants -- Board Member and Secretary -- COGIC Charities, Incorporated (National) (2002 to Present) -- Board Member (Trustee) -- King of Glory COGIC (1997 to Present) -- Board Member -- First Jurisdiction of Illinois, COGIC, Incorporated -- Board Member -- Moriah Community Development Corporation -- Board Member -- Citizen's Action of Illinois (2003 to Present) -- Past Board Member -- First Jurisdiction Bible College (1998-2005) -- Past Board Member -- South Central Community Services, Inc (2002-2003) -- Past Board Member -- Jobs For Youth, Chicago -- Past Board Member (2002-2005), and Current Member -- Illinois CPA Society -- Past Board Member (2002-2004), and Current Member -- Cook County Bar Association -- Past Board Member (2000-2001), and Current Member? Black Women Lawyers Association -- Member -- NAACP -- Member -- Rainbow PUSH -- Member -- National Association of Black Accountants -- Member - Chicago Bar Association -- Member - National Forum for Black Public Administrators -- Member - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority -- Member - King of Glory Tabernacle Church of God in Christ. -- Member - Illinois Bar AssociationElected offices held: Cook County Circuit Court ClerkHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My Number 1 campaign issue is to build on the Clerk's Office's success in digitizing court records and improve public access to court records. I will work with the Illinois Supreme Court to create a Public Access Policy that permits Internet access to images of court records and to authorize expansion of electronic filing of cases.The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County has been at the forefront of electronic records management in Illinois.At present, we have over 50 million electronic images of court records through both the Imaging and Document Management System (IDMS) and the Electronic Filing System (e-filing).These documents can already be viewed online on the public access terminals at the courthouses, in accordance with the Illinois Supreme Court Public Access Policy, which currently restricts access to these documents to the public access terminals only.However, my goal is to work with the Illinois Supreme Court to create a Public Access Policy that will balance a litigant's right to privacy (i.e., not have his or her social security number, birth date, credit card numbers or other such personal information in the public domain) and the general public's right to court information.The IDMS system has already been implemented in the Chancery, Civil, Law, and Probate divisions. In addition, the case management system for the County Division has included electronic images since 2005.Therefore, five (5) out of the (7) civil case type divisions have electronic images available already.The final civil case type divisions, Domestic Relations and Child Support will have the IDMS system implemented in early 2012.The IDMS system will be implemented for the remaining divisions, Criminal Department, Criminal Division, Juvenile Justice and Child Protection by the end of 2012.The Clerk's Office has also programmed the e-filing system to upload all electronic documents filed into IDMS so that those documents are also already available on the public access terminal at the courthouse.Electronic filing is being done within the Commercial Litigation section of the Law Division.Upon approval of the Illinois Supreme Court, e-filing will be implemented for the remaining civil case types. My goal is to work with the Chief Judge and the Illinois Supreme Court to implement e-filing for all the civil case types as soon as the expansion is approved.Key Issue 2 My Number 2 campaign issue is to build on the Clerk's Office's nationally recognized reputation for innovation.I plan to work with the Chief Judge to create paperless courtrooms by using the Imaging and Document Management System (IDMS) we already have in place and the electronic filing system.My goal is to help the Chief Judge implement the 21st Century Courtroom demonstrated by the National Center for State Courts, which I witnessed some years ago at the William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA.The 21st Century Courtroom would be supported by state-of-the-art information technology:-- Judges would use computers at their benches to review electronic images from the IDMS system and to electronically sign orders prepared by attorneys or self-represented litigants.-- Attorneys would have computers on their desks to review electronic images and to upload or draft orders. The orders would then be forwarded to the Judge for review and approval and then to the Clerk for stamping and filing.-- There would also be computers on the ledge near the judge's bench for attorneys and litigants to view images of court documents, when they approach the judge's bench.-- There would be either an overhead screen for jurors to see evidence, or each juror would have a computer screen.-- Finally, there would be an interactive video conferencing system that would permit litigants to have witnesses to testify from anywhere in the world, thus saving a significant amount of money for litigants, especially for expert witnesses.Key Issue 3 My Number 3 campaign issue is to continue to deliver effective customer service to the residents of Cook County.I will:-- Continue to raise awareness of the E-Form for Orders of Protection for Domestic Violence Victims that can be accessed on the Clerk's Office website.-- Continue to provide comprehensive information about expungement of criminal records online, at seminars and in public service announcements.Also, I will continue to sponsor an annual weekend full service expungement summit. More than 14,000 people have been served at previous summits.-- Continue to raise awareness of the search engine on the Clerk's Office website, about the $16+ million in unclaimed mortgage foreclosure surplus funds that is being held for individuals who have lost their homes to foreclosure.-- Continue to raise awareness of the search engine on the Clerk's Office website of the unclaimed child support funds.Questions Answers What changes would you propose to improve the operation of the office of the clerk of the circuit court? Why?I would like to see the Illinois Supreme Court ease up on its requirement that the Clerk's Office maintain a paper copy of every document, even those electronically filed.I would like the Illinois Supreme Court to permit the Clerk's Office to electronically print all filed documents on demand, to permit the Clerk's Office to modify the retention policy for storing paper files, and to permit the long term storage of electronic images.These changes would save the Clerk's Office the expense of printing and storing paper files in the short and long term.Also, electronic files would be immediately available for judges' use, thus speeding up the administration of justice.How do you propose to improve access to records by the public and transparency of office management?The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County has over 50 million electronic images of court records through both the Imaging and Document Management System (IDMS) and the Electronic Filing System (e-filing).These documents can already be viewed online on the public access terminals at the courthouses, in accordance with the Illinois Supreme Court Public Access Policy, which currently restricts access to these documents to the public access terminals only. I believe court records should be made available online via the Internet for the general public. To move the Illinois Supreme Court to change the Public Access Policy toward that end, I have already discussed with Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court E-Business Committee both the importance of and practical recommendations for protecting the privacy of parties to litigation, as well as providing the general public electronic access to the documents. I will also work closely with the Illinois Supreme Court to develop an appropriate privacy policy. The policy would probably require litigants to redact all private information from their case filing so that those documents could be shown online on the Internet, and then file the private information, such as social security numbers, in a separate document which would not be shown online.The management of the Clerk's Office is already very transparent.The results of the Clerk's Office management is evident from the information shown on the Clerk's Office Web site through descriptions of the Clerk's Office divisions, names and contact numbers for division management staff, press releases, e-newsletters, as well as the information currently being provided in the Cook County STARS Report.In addition, the Clerk's Office hosts quarterly tours for the public.What is your view of the clerk of the circuit court's web site? What, if any, changes would you recommend and how would you fund them?The Web site provides comprehensive information and services for attorneys, litigants and the general public about court cases and justice-related topics.Among the many features are:-- Victims of Domestic Violence can complete E-Forms to file Orders of Protection. -- There is a Self-Help Center for pro se litigants. -- A Senior Citizen Center. -- Clerk's Office brochures describing the divisions. -- Judges information-- All users, both attorneys and pro se litigants, can e-file commercial litigation cases online and listen to a webinar to learn how to electronically file cases. -- All users can access hundreds of fillable court forms, complete them, print them out and bring them to the court house.-- All users can access the full electronic docket for cases filed in the Civil, Law, Chancery and Domestic Relations Divisions, as well as select sections of the electronic docket in Probate and County Division cases. -- Drivers who receive a traffic ticket can go to the Clerk's Office's Web site to pay fines, request traffic safety school or request a court hearing date.-- Cook County residents can search a database to determine if they are owed surplus funds in cases of mortgage foreclosures. -- Parents can search a database to determine if they have unclaimed child support checks waiting for them. -- Cook County residents can view the Naturalization Declarations of Intent Index, documenting immigrate information, for genealogical searches. -- Residents can obtain information about Criminal and Traffic Expungements. -- There is a Glossary of Terms to help litigants. -- There are answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). -- There are links to the Cook County Web site as well as other governmental agencies. -- Employment application. -- Link to the Inspector General Web site so the public may report any fraud, waste or abuse. -- The Web site permits sign-up for e-mail of information from the Clerk's Office.I will continue to keep the Clerk's Office Web site up to date and, when approved by the Illinois Supreme Court, put images of court records on the website.As previously mentioned, I believe court records should be made available online via the Internet for the general public.To move the Illinois Supreme Court to change the Public Access Policy toward that end, I have already discussed with Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court E-Business Committee both the importance of and practical recommendations for protecting the privacy of parties to the litigations, as well as providing the general public electronic access to the documents. I will also work closely with the Illinois Supreme Court to develop an appropriate privacy policy so that court records can be made available on the website.What improvements should be made to the office's and the county's ethics rules' What is your view of whether employees should be able to donate to the clerk? What should the office's policy be on nepotism and why?I will only accept contributions in compliance with all campaign finance laws.I support the policy of the Cook County Board of Ethics in regards to fundraising and political activity.The policy specifically states, "County officials and employees shall not compel or intimidate any other official or employee to make or refrain from making any political contribution."Also, the policy states, "Nothing in the Ordinance prohibits a County employee from engaging in activities related to his or her official duties or from voluntarily engaging in political activity on his or her own time (including vacation personal or compensatory time off)." I strictly enforce this policy in the Clerk's Office.Every year, I send bulletins to employees stating that they are free to engage in or refrain from political activity, in accordance with the Ethics Policy.A few years ago, I requested an official inquiry into an accusation that I pressured employees to contribute to my campaign. I was specifically exonerated by the Cook County Inspector General's Report of October 21, 2004, which stated, "Neither statements provided nor statistical information supports the allegation that Brown pressured her employees to make contributions to her campaign fund.In fact, the evidence is quite the contrary."Also, I will only hire individuals who are qualified and support the mission of the Clerk's Office. During the hiring process, individuals are expected to fully disclose the names of relatives who work at the Clerk's Office. Furthermore, I do not have any of my relatives on the payroll and I do not support close relatives working for the Clerk's Office.My daughter just spent almost a year searching for a job in Chicago after returning from London.Can this office meet budget goals set forth by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle without compromising services' Is so, how? If not, what alternative do you propose?The Clerk's Office has met the budget goals set forth by the County Board.In FY2012, the Clerk's Office reduced its budget by more than $6 million in response to County revenue shortfalls. To meet this goal, the Clerk's Office cut management and staff in all divisions.The American Bar Association recently issued a white paper stating that the reduction in court personnel throughout the country is starting to have a negative impact on the court's ability to mete out proper justice. Litigants deserve to receive a high level of customer service from the Clerk's Office.To maintain a high level of service, I will continue to improve the efficiency of financial operations, but I do feel that the cuts will have an effect on our ability to serve.As Clerk of the Circuit Court, I have a proven record of holding the line on expenditures while increasing the amount of revenue collected.I have successfully raised revenue by improving the efficiency of financial operations in the Clerk's Office.I have:-- Introduced credit card payment system for bail bonds'thus reducing jail overcrowding.Collected over $55 million dollars in bail bonds and fees through credit cards.-- Strengthened past-due collections strategies by creating a Financial Compliance Unit that led to the collection of $2.036 million in previously uncollected funds owed to County; and lead the implementation of a new law permitting collection agencies, then hired collection agencies that collected over $25 millions.-- Led the passing of a law to permit State Income Tax Refund interception for court fees.Collected over $8 million in fees.Also, I have successfully lobbied for fee increases in the court system.Many of these fees had not been increased since the early 1990s.The major pieces of legislation that I supported and was enacted by the Illinois General Assembly include late payment penalty in criminal cases,use of bail bond money for court costs, late payment penalty on civil cases, and use of third party fund facilitators.