Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed an amicus brief advocating for the continuation of public access to hearings concerning serious disciplinary matters involving officers from the Chicago Police Department (CPD). This move aims to uphold a tradition spanning 60 years. The brief was submitted to the Illinois Appellate Court, where Raoul argued that holding these hearings privately would undermine both the state's consent decree with Chicago—a court order demanding comprehensive police reform—and public confidence in CPD.
"Increasing transparency is a cornerstone goal of the state’s consent decree with the city to reform policing practices," stated Raoul. "Eliminating this longstanding transparency measure would be a step in the opposite direction and would ultimately result in a loss of public trust."
In 2023, an arbitrator responsible for establishing terms for a new collective bargaining agreement between Chicago and a union representing most CPD officers accepted the union's proposal. This proposal allowed officers facing serious discipline—such as termination or suspension exceeding one year—to opt for private arbitration rather than public hearings before the Chicago Police Board. However, a Cook County Circuit Court judge vacated this part of the arbitrator's award, citing that it conflicted with Illinois' public policy favoring transparency in significant police disciplinary issues. Raoul is requesting that the appellate court affirm this ruling to ensure proceedings remain open to public scrutiny.
Raoul's brief contends that private proceedings contradict key principles of the consent decree, which includes several transparency reforms intended to address long-standing issues within CPD. It also highlights specific mandates of the consent decree requiring greater information provision to misconduct complainants regarding their complaints' status and handling.
Furthermore, Raoul argues that concealing serious disciplinary proceedings from public view could erode public confidence in CPD. As noted in his brief, transparency in disciplinary matters is crucial for building trust according to insights from the consent decree, U.S. Department of Justice, and policing experts. Removing such transparency measures could significantly damage this trust.