Breaking the Silence: Holding Cook County Family Court Accountable

Family court is one of the most powerful—but least visible—parts of our legal system. Hearings are closed. Records are sealed. There’s no public oversight or accessible complaint process—even when court orders are ignored, or advocates fail to act.

This secrecy protects the system—not the families it affects. It allows delays, non-enforcement, and neglect to go unchecked, often leaving children and parents isolated and powerless.

Why Transparency Matters in Family Court

Without oversight, systemic failures go unnoticed and unchallenged. Whether it’s a Guardian Ad Litem who refuses to act, or repeated custody violations that go unenforced, families have virtually no institution to appeal to. There’s no data on complaints, enforcement rates, or the performance of court-appointed professionals.

Privacy in family court is important—but it must not mean impunity.

Take Action: Demand Accountability

You do have power. If you’ve seen failures in Cook County Family Court, you can file a formal complaint. Here’s how:

• Contact the Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Relations Division — they maintain the roster of court-appointed GALs, Child Representatives, and attorneys for children.Circuit Court of Cook County+1
• Reach the Office of the Public Guardian (Domestic Relations Division) — they handle court appointments on a sliding scale and process concerns in custody matters.publicguardian.org+1
• In your complaint, clearly document the failures: missed parenting time, unresponsive GALs, lack of enforcement. Ask that it be reviewed and request reforms to prevent similar neglect.

Why It Matters for Families and Children

Filing a complaint does more than address your individual case—it sends a message: secrecy is not acceptable. Silence is not neutral.

Transparency and oversight can:

• Encourage timely enforcement of court orders
• Hold GALs and judges accountable
• Create pressure for meaningful structural reforms
• Protect the trust and well‑being of countless families and children

Let’s Bring Family Court Into the Light

Laws only mean something if they’re enforced, and safeguards only work when they are seen. We cannot reform what we cannot observe.

If our voices remain unheard, family court will continue to operate without accountability—and children, once more, suffer quietly.

Take a stand. Visit the Domestic Relations Division at the Daley Center. Reach out to the Office of the Public Guardian. Document your concerns. Demand reform.

Because family court shouldn’t just protect privacy—it must protect justice.