Cook Co. considers closing courts during NATO/G-8

Officials in Cook County are thinking about closing the civil courts at Chicago’s Daley Center for security reasons during the upcoming NATO and G-8 summits.

A spokesman for the Cook County Sheriff’s Department says closing the courtrooms would be a smart move to keep jurors, judges and others with court business safe. Department spokesman Frank Bilecki says the protests also could have an impact on transportation, making it difficult to get to the Daley Center.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Chief Cook County Judge Tim Evans says no final decision on closing the courts has been made.

Protesters have applied for a permit to hold a massive march on May 19 from the Daley Center to McCormick Place. That’s where world leaders will be meeting May 19-21.