FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2012

As a candidate for re-election, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown says the Illinois Supreme Court’s announcement to launch a pilot program allowing cameras in some courtrooms during proceedings is a major step toward her 21st century vision.

“I am thrilled that we are moving towards the real time access to the court for the public and media. This pilot being initiated by Justice Thomas Kilbride, and the Illinois Supreme Court allows for true transparency, and equal and fair justice for all citizens using the court system,” says Brown.

Courtroom cameras dovetail with our digitization of court documents currently underway in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office,which allows for real time access to information via images instead of paper.

“We currently have many documents digitized for viewing that are accessible through the public access terminals located in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office,” explains Brown, who was first elected in 2000.

 Brown is a leading proponent of expanding the use of technology in courtrooms, such as the use of interactive video conferencing for witness and expert testimony from parties anywhere in the world; providing computers for judges, attorneys, and juries, which the Clerk’s office is making preparations for in an effort to create a paperless court system.

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