Upgrades beginning to show in court clerk’s operations

When I took office as clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County this past December, I made a promise to bring progress to a system long overdue for transformation. I campaigned on a platform rooted in transparency, accountability and accessibility. I’m proud to report that in just a few short months, we are already making good on that commitment.

From internal systems to public-facing services, we are building a modern, responsive Clerk’s Office that puts people first. These early achievements reflect a simple but powerful belief: government should work for the people it serves.

The week of April 14, Amnesty Week was launched, a five-day initiative waiving 30% collection fees on outstanding traffic fines and fees. This program improves access to the court system by eliminating cost-related barriers that often discourage individuals from resolving outstanding matters. It reflects an early step toward making the justice system more equitable and responsive to the needs of all residents.

Access to justice starts with access to information and services. That’s why we’ve prioritized breaking down barriers for the public, especially for working families and residents with limited English proficiency. We began implementing Language Line interpretation services and expanded our website’s translation capabilities to more than 50 languages. One in three Cook County residents speaks a language other than English at home. This investment ensures they can navigate our systems with dignity and clarity.

Our Clerk mobile app, launching later this year, will allow residents to access services such as case lookup, court locations, ticket payments and eFile support directly from users’ phones without needing to download a traditional app. It’s a modern solution for the way people live and communicate today.

We are in the process of rolling out eCitation, which will allow law enforcement to transmit traffic citations directly to our case management system. This will reduce paperwork, speed up case initiation and improve the accuracy of records. It ultimately serves both court staff and the public. We are working toward launching ePay and ePlea, which will allow Cook County residents to resolve traffic cases online without having to step foot in a courthouse.

The public has a right to expect sound financial management from its elected officials. That’s why we launched a comprehensive internal control audit to examine the office’s financial systems, identify inefficiencies and pinpoint process gaps. While the Clerk’s Office undergoes an annual external audit, this internal review focuses specifically on strengthening our internal controls and ensuring every dollar is handled with integrity.

In addition to launching new oversight tools, the Clerk’s Office fulfilled statutory reporting obligations by completing and submitting outstanding internal reports. These were reports from 2023 and 2024 that had not been finalized under previous administrations. Addressing this backlog was a critical first step in restoring procedural integrity and ensuring that the office meets its statutory and reporting obligations going forward.

Accountability is also about culture. We launched a new in-house customer service training program to emphasize professionalism, responsiveness and respect in every interaction. This initiative is about building trust with the public, starting with how they are treated at every touchpoint.

In March, we launched the office’s first public-facing data dashboard, a major step toward open government. This online tool allows users to view and filter five years of case initiation data by area of law, court location and division. It’s the first time residents can directly track how the courts are operating. While broader records access remains a long-term priority, we are proving that transparency does not have to wait for legislative action. We can and will share meaningful data today.

I am proud of the progress we have made, and I am energized by what comes next. We will continue to add new features to the data dashboard. We will launch mobile-friendly tools that bring services to people where they are. And we will keep working to earn the public’s trust, day by day, reform by reform.

Cook County deserves a court system that is modern, open and people-centered. That is the office I pledged to build, and that is the office we are delivering.

• Democrat Mariyana Spyroupolos is Cook County clerk of the circuit court.