Cook County Public Defenders Association

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

You have all received Ms. Campanelli’s email regarding working from home and other emergency office protocols. About an hour before sending out the email and protocols to the general membership, management sent it to the board. We indicated that there are issues in the protocols and email that we object to or should be modified and we should discuss them. Ms. Campanelli felt it was important to set an initial structure to provide some information to people for the upcoming week. We agreed as long as it is understood that we will continue discussions on what Management sent out and the issues that you have been presenting to us to optimize everyone’s safety.

The Union is having an emergency board meeting tomorrow at 10 am. After that meeting we will be having a meeting with management where we will discuss our concerns. The PD, ASA, Sheriff and others in the court system have also presented questions to the Chief Judge after the Judge’s order was made public. It is our understanding that more information may be released from the CJ’s office Monday and we have a tentative meeting with management Monday at 3pm should anything new come out.

Some of the issues that we intend to discuss:

· Work from home should not be onerous to those that choose to do so

· Members within a high-risk group (over 60; immune system issues etc.) will not be put in harms way

· Essential duties that must be carried out will be assigned fairly

· Protective products will be present, available and used

· All areas of the office where there are concerns will be discussed. Police station, bond court, prelim courts etc.

· Concerns that are out of the office’s control should be vigorously pushed. I.e. lock up sanitation prior to return to status quo

· W.H.O and C.D.C. guidelines we be followed

We have every reason to believe that the Union and Management, together, will be able to address most of the concerns that you are feeling. Besides, you all know this Union has no problem throwing down if we have to, however I am optimistic that we will work through this together with management.

We understand that everything is up in the air right now and that people are scared for themselves, their families, friends and because we are public defenders the people that we represent. We have always given voice to the voiceless and right now our clients are even more voiceless than normal.

Be assured that even if you do not hear from us, we are listening and reading every concern that you send us. This includes your concerns about support staff.

Please have a good night and we will continue to work the problem tomorrow.

Today the Executive Board met to discuss, among many important issues, the COVID 19 virus which will greatly impact our members. Just after we met the Governor, Mayor of Chicago and the Cook County Board President held a press conference. It was outlined at that press conference what actions the county was taking at this time in connection with this crisis. These actions will change over time as the situation is analyzed going forward. However, none of todays’ statements by the Board President addressed the criminal courts in general or the specific issues that we face. Later we received an email from Council 31 that they are working to set up a meeting with us, President’s office and the Office of the Public Defender as soon as possible to discuss the issues that we have presented.  

The executive board has communicated to management our members’ urgent desire to have many questions answered relating to COVID 19 and our job and discuss guidance on jail visits, out-of-custody client appointments, plans for court dates going forward, sanitation in our offices and court buildings and use of sick time.  It is our understanding that management is also meeting currently with other stakeholders in the Cook County criminal justice system to work on joint solutions going forward.

We want our membership to know that we are fully aware that this virus will likely have a huge impact on our work, our personal and family wellbeing, and also our clients’ wellbeing, both in and out of custody.

We want you to know that if any of our members have questions, first and foremost, Executive Board Members are available to hear your concerns.  We will address whatever solutions management rolls out as soon as we are aware of them.

In the meantime, Local 3315 encourages members to stay home if you feel sick.  Please notify your supervisors (and Local 3315 Board Members) if soap and paper towels are not present in your work site’s restrooms.   

The Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Administration does have an online form to report health and safety hazards present in your workplace – https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Laws-Rules/safety/Pages/Hazards.aspx.

At the moment, we are eagerly awaiting guidance on our next steps for getting our jobs done while protecting our own and our families’ health.  We will be back in touch with our members when we hear of our management’s plan.

Executive Board of AFSCME Local 3315
Kevin Ochalla

President

Local 3315

Good Morning,
Yesterday around 10:30 I sent the attached letter to Campanelli outlining certain issues that I felt should be addressed right away. (I drafted the letter to be sent on the 13th, but after distributing it to the rest of the board for revisions and additions it became necessary to send it immediately. So the date is wrong at the top.) 
As you can see from the letter there were two main issues that we initially address. Client exposure and the lack of proper infrastructure in the office to ensure a safer working environment. As of the writing of this email the only response I received from management is the email you all received where Campanelli attached fliers from the CDC. Nothing as of yet addresses the specific issues that I addressed in the letter. I have also sent an email to the County Labor Department to at least try and address the infrastructure issues. i.e hand sanitizers and running out of soap etc. I have also attached two other documents from AFSCME Council 31 regarding the Coronavirus that hopefully will also offer some guidance. 
Prior to sending this email to you I spoke with Council 31 staff about what if any meetings that the County is having with labor about this situation. As of the writing of this email there have not been any meetings at the County level that include Council 31 or the other Unions. Local leadership will keep pressing for more information this as this crisis continues. 
Other issues have been brought to my attention by members since my drafting of this letter that are worth discussion. Some of those include what happens if the courts are shut down but not the county, what happens if the County shuts down but not the courts, will we be compensated either way, what will be our obligations under wither situation, what are we doing about jail visits or client meetings among others. Our contract is pretty clear on court closures; i.e snow days and day after Thanksgiving. However there will need to be discussion with the County if we are out for longer, or if we are not out at all.  
Local leadership would advise to follow the CDC (sent to you by management)  and AFSCME (attached here) guides. Furthermore do what you feel you need to do in order to keep you and your family safe. The Union will support you in your decision should the need arise. Hopefully soon management will reach out to Local leadership and and together we can develop a protocol for addressing issues specific to this office for this crisis. 
I know this crisis has everyone on edge for both ourselves and families and for our clients as we are literally on the front lines in close contact with a litany of people everyday who also happen to be in high risk populations
We will disseminate as much information as we can as soon as we get it. 
Stay Safe and please feel free to reach out with questions. We will try and answer what we can.  

—
Kevin OchallaPresidentLocal 3315

Attached is the agenda for the January 29th 2020 General Membership Meeting to be held at 26th and California on the 2nd floor cafeteria at 4:00 p.m.

Holiday Party is Friday December 6th at 7pm at Ovation   2324 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60612. Law Clerks can attend for free. Guests $25 and please contact Mark Douglass for guests attending. 
Also IACDL will be holding a membership/renewal drive and a drawing that night. Flyer is attached. IADCL Union Board Members are: President Lakshmi Jha; Robert Breslin; Colleen Bisher-Fry; Anne French; Kevin Ochalla.
“Proud Union Home” signs will also be available. Suggested $5 donation.
Look forward to seeing everyone next Friday

As a reminder there is a general membership meeting on Thursday November 7th 2019 at 4:00 pm at 26th and California 2nd fl cafeteria.
Agenda Attached

2 of our members are retiring this week. Attached are the flyers for the party info

IACDL is having their Violent Crimes Seminar on November 22nd at The University Club. You can apply through the office at this time. If you do not get accepted to have the office cover the cost I would encourage you to still go at your own expense and request an admin or seminar day from your supervisor.
We have approximately 13 seats at the dinner that the Union is raffling off. To qualify for the raffle I ask that you send me an email indicating your desire to attend the dinner portion by no later than November 14th at 4:00 pm. At our Executive Board meeting that afternoon we will enter all the names in a hat and draw the winners. 
I would also encourage you to join this organization if your have not done so already. 

2019 Annual Violent Crimes Seminar

Defending Difficult Crimes in the Court of Public Opinion

Six CLE Credit Hours including one Professionalism hour

Seminar Agenda

8:15– 8:45    Registration, breakfast & vendor exhibits
8:45-9:00    Welcome
9:00-10:00    People v.  Kamel Harris: When a Gruesome, Grisley Murder is Based on Sneaky Snitches and Faulty Forensics
                     Kulmeet “Bob” Galhotra, Supervisor, Homicide Task Force, Cook County Public Defender’s Office

10:00-11:00   Confronting Evil in the Public Eye: The Tyshawn Lee Murder Trial
                       Todd Pugh, Breen & Pugh  and Danita Ivory, Cook County Public Defenders’ Office
11:00-11:15         Break
 11:15-12:15     When the Police Are Prosecuted:  Strategies and Observations
                         Tom Breen, Breen & Pugh
 12:15-1:45        Lunch On Your Own
  1:45-2:45         Representing the Accused Terrorist in a Terrified Culture
                        Thomas A. Durkin, Durkin & Roberts
2:45-3:45         Defending the Sexual Assault Case in the Age of “ME TOO”
                         Donna Rotunno & Damon Cheronis
3:45-4:00         Break
4:00-5:00         Ethics in the Age of the 24 Hour News Cycle Andrea Lyons

Registration Fee:

IACDL Member                                            $100.00

Non-member Public Defender                     $125.00

Non-member                                                $150.00

2019 ANNUAL DINNER

Cocktails to begin at SIX.  Dinner at Seven.

We will be honoring the following individuals:

• Thomas A. Durkin,  2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
• Herschella G. Conyers, 2019 W. Jameson Kunz,  Promotion of Social Justice Award

Thomas A. Durkin – 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award

Thomas A. Durkin is a nationally known trial lawyer specializing in the defense of complex federal criminal matters, with a special emphasis on the defense of prosecutions involving national security and domestic terrorism related matters.

     Mr. Durkin was selected by the American Civil Liberties Union as one of five lawyers nationwide to participate in its John Adams Project, which provided civilian defense counsel in the case of U.S. v. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, et al., the initial 9/11 conspiracy prosecution in the Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has been admitted by the U.S. Department of Defense to the Pool of Qualified Civilian Defense Counsel to Practice Before the Military Commissions, and presently serves on the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Select Committee on National Security.
     Mr. Durkin is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he teaches National Security Law and serves as Co-Founder and Co-Director of its National Security and Civil Rights Program. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Center on National Security at Fordham University Law School.
     Mr. Durkin was a Law Clerk to the Honorable James B. Parsons of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago from 1978 to 1984. He is a partner in the Chicago law firm of Durkin & Roberts.
     His dedication to persons accused of crimes has been unwavering throughout his career.  He has been a friend and mentor to countless colleagues.  For these reasons, Tom Durkin is IACDL’s choice for the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Herschella G. Conyers – 2019 W. Jameson Kunz, Promotion of Social Justice Award

Herschella G. Conyers is a Clinical Professor of Law and the Director of the Mandel Criminal and Juvenile Justice Clinic. Before joining the law school, she served as an assistant public defender, supervisor, and deputy chief in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender from 1986 to 1993. During her time at the Public Defender’s Office, Professor Conyers worked in both the Cook County municipal and felony divisions including conflicts and capital litigation. A native of the South Side of Chicago, Professor Conyers became interested in criminal defense and juvenile justice after doing her law school clinical work at the Criminal Defense Consortium of Cook County, in Woodlawn. She also teaches the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop and a seminar entitled “Life (and Death) in the Law”. Professor Conyers is also actively engaged in criminal and juvenile justice policy, locally and nationally. She has most recently organized several symposia that brought together judges, educators, and other community leaders to discuss the criminal and juvenile justice systems and violence in minority communities. In 2013, Professor Conyers received the Edith Sampson Award from the Illinois Judicial Council for her work in advocating for juveniles in the legal system. Professor Conyers is also a nationally recognized leader in trial skills: lecturing and training students, lawyers, and judges around the country. She is faculty and a board member of the National Criminal Defense College. She has also lectured or taught trial skills at Harvard, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Training, the New York State Defender’s Association and numerous public defender offices and bar associations around the country. Professor Conyers received both her JD and her BA from the University of Chicago.      
     It is because of her dedication and zealousness that IACDL presents Herschella G. Conyers with the 2019 Jameson W. Kunz Promotion of Social Justice Award.

On Thursday 9-5-19 around 3:00 pm management emailed the board and stated that Amy is unable to meet Friday 9-6-19  at 2:00pm .