On Tuesday, an Initiative to Protect Women’s Privacy in Court Records Chicago, IL, March 13, 2024 – Iris Y. Martinez, the esteemed Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, along with former Mayor of the City of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, announced a groundbreaking initiative designed to safeguard the privacy of women in Cook County. This pioneering initiative aims to protect the privacy of women whose reproductive health information appears in court records, which are currently available to the public. These records have been found in various legal contexts, including cases where women were victims of crime or involved in the criminal justice system and in civil law areas such as orders of protection and divorce cases.

“This initiative marks the first data-driven effort crucial for safeguarding women’s rights in Cook County, signaling a promising era of reforms powered by technology to enhance our court system’s transparency. The practice of discussing health matters in open courtrooms, thus creating public records of private information, is problematic. It undermines women’s trust in the judiciary’s capacity to protect their privacy, especially concerning their reproductive health. Such information must remain confidential, ensuring that discussions within Cook County’s courtrooms cannot be used against women, either criminally or civilly, in other states or in an uncertain future. Acknowledging the ongoing nature of this work and the time it might require, our commitment remains steadfast towards ensuring the safety and privacy women deserve. By working collectively, we aim not only to shield the women of Cook County but also to devise a strategy that could serve as a model nationwide.”

Photo Credit: Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Iris Y. Martinez