PRBA wants Latino judge for new Northwest Side Restorative Justice Community Court

The Puerto Rican Bar Association has called on Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans to select a Latino judge to preside over the Restorative Justice Community Court (RJCC) opening in the northwest part of the city in Logan Square/Avondale.

The PRBA has released a copy of its letter to Judge Evans concerning this issue. The letter states, in part:

The Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA) applauds your efforts to institute a specialized, neighborhood-based forum to resolve disputes. The PRBA strongly supports the opening of a Restorative Justice Community Court (RJCC) branch on the northwest side of the city, which is traditionally Latino. This new RJCC Logan Square/Avondale location will be a positive addition to the area.

It is our understanding that neighborhood groups, community leaders and local politicians are being consulted prior to opening each location. With this in mind, it has been brought to the PRBA’s attention that Judge Kristyna Ryan will be presiding over the RJCC in Logan Square/Avondale.

The PRBA strongly encourages you to choose a Latino judge to preside over this new location. Cook County has many highly qualified Latino judges who could lead this effort—Latino judges who are from this neighborhood, are bilingual and are already respected as leaders by the community you are trying to serve.

You recognize the importance of diversity on the bench, thus having a Latino judge preside over the RJCC in Logan Square/Avondale is ideal.