Office of the Chief Judge’s YouTube accounts to be restored

(CHICAGO – August 23) - Earlier today, the Office of the Chief Judge (OCJ) was notified by Google that the OCJ’s YouTube accounts, used to provide public access to court proceedings, will be restored after being temporarily disabled last week. 

Last Friday, Google disabled the accounts due to unspecified violations of unspecified YouTube Community Guidelines. The Office of the Chief Judge appealed. Earlier today, the OCJ received a notice from Google’s YouTube team confirming that the court’s channels do not violate the guidelines and acknowledging that “sometimes we make mistakes.” 

As of Tuesday afternoon, YouTube had restored some channels, including Pretrial Division (bond court) courtroom 100 in the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, which will be streaming on Wednesday. The OCJ is working with YouTube to restore the remaining channels. 

When the channels are restored, the press and public can resume watching Circuit Court of Cook County proceedings on YouTube, and also can attend proceedings in person at the time and date of the scheduled hearing. Check the court’s website for availability of Livestream at https://www.cookcountycourt.org/HOME/LiveStream.