Nathan Armstrong

The @injusticewatch.org newsletter had a bunch of interesting stuff the other day - including the headline news that our Cook County judicial election guide is out - but it also had restaurant recommendations from @kellygarcia.bsky.social and I.

www.injusticewatch.org/subscribe/

This is a great guide to voting for judges --

It's never been more important to ensure we have judges who are capable of meeting the moment. Injustice Watch is an absolutely vital resource to that end.

Which Counties Elect Their Prosecutors and Sheriffs in 2026? - Bolts There are roughly 2,400 elections for prosecutor and sheriff in 2026. Below is our Bolts database of those local elections. Also: read our preliminary overview of these elections, published in January...

Incredible resource 👇🏽 from @boltsmag.org detailing the 2,400 (not a typo) #prosecutor and #sheriff elections *this year*.

Critical information for voters and advocates working toward #reform & looking for opportunities to help shape their criminal legal system. #vote

boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...

We're taking applications for this position for another couple of weeks! I really can't say enough good things about working at IW, we have incredible benefits and fantastic pay and a really positive and healthy workplace culture. Apply and spread the word!

Inspector General Launches New Dashboard to Identify ‘Hot Spots’ of Police Misconduct “Any student of CPD’s modern history can recognize that there have been these groups of officers that have contributed more than their fair share of harm and misconduct,” Inspector General Deborah Wit...

Elected officials and Chicagoans concerned about misconduct by members of the Chicago Police Department now have a new way of keeping track of officers who have been repeatedly accused of wrongdoing, the city’s watchdog announced Wednesday. https://to.wttw.com/3NlQ8SC

Injustice Watch’s best work of 2025 Revisit some of our team’s outstanding reporting from this past year, including our investigations into tax foreclosures, a rogue forensics lab, juvenile detention, wrongful convictions, and the count...

Writing this is one of my favorite assignments, because I get to revisit all the incredible work the @injusticewatch.org team did this year. Check it out in case you missed any of it: www.injusticewatch.org/staff-news/2...

We made a print zine! 📔 Donate $10 or more today and get a copy. buff.ly/tK5Ga4W

Injustice watch socks

Stuntin’ on that voting booth next 🧦 @injusticewatch.org

Illinois fails to collect wages owed to workers in Cook County Wage theft cases get stalled out in Cook County Court, where it can take years for workers to receive payment they're owed — if they receive it at all.

“This is the saddest part about being an immigrant — that one strives to do the best job you can … and then we don’t get paid,” the worker said in between sobs.

Gut-wrenching new investigation from @writeralejandra.bsky.social Wage theft in Illinois is rampant
www.injusticewatch.org/project/wait...

New weasel just dropped.

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Just a reminder that we're still accepting any and all tips regarding the people running for judge in Cook County in the March primary! Take a look at the names here and share anything you'd like us to know. Responses are confidential! airtable.com/appG8uZvhvgY...

I'm proud to have contributed to this guide on Using History to Report on Systemic Racism from the @raceandequityproject.org!

Shoutout to @loganjaffe.bsky.social and @laurakt540.bsky.social for sharing their knowledge and leading this helpful session.

ICYM the Cook County court Friday night news dump: at the end of his first week in office Chief Judge Beach axed three presiding judges:

How chief judge Timothy Evans shaped the Cook County courts For 24 years, Timothy Evans led the Cook County Circuit Court through major reforms and policy changes.

If you live in the Chicago area, the chief judge of Cook County might be the most consequential local official you've never heard of. The position has been held by one man — Timothy Evans — for the past 24 years. Read the latest from us and @chicagomag.com: buff.ly/I8R6R5I

Most people running for Cook County judge seats in March are currently attorneys. Do you have experience working with them? Inform our next judicial election guide by sending your tips!

evergreen

Join us Dec. 4 at Avondale Bowl to celebrate Injustice Watch's 10th birthday. Tickets include food, cocktails, bowling, magic, and more — and will help fuel the next decade of judicial election guides and impactful investigative journalism. buff.ly/T0E1oy8

A juvie guard was found not guilty of battery and official misconduct last week. “The defendant puts his hand on [the child] and maybe pushes him at best,” the judge in the case said. “There is no picking up and throwing down.”

Watch the video. Tell me if you agree and if you also agree that 2+2=5.

photo of six pumpkins carved into glowing jack-o'-lanterns, in front of a brick wall. a large pumpkin has the cow tools cow carved into it and another large pumpkin has the barn. in front of them are 4 small pumpkins, each carved with one of the cow tools on them. the lump pumpkin has no stem and the prongler pumpkin is laid sideways so that the stem lines up and forms the bottom half of the prongler, it's top half carved into the pumpkin.

happy halloween i am ready to confuse some trick-or-treaters

Our team was torn between wanting to decorate our office pumpkin as a judge and as a Labubu. We split the difference with Judge LaBooBoo. Happy Halloween from us 👻

A photo of senior reporter Maya Dukmasova holding a print guide for Chicago renters

A photo of a stack of print guides for Chicago renters in a wire rack at a Chicago Public Library branch

Print versions of our toolkit for Chicago renters are now available at every Chicago Public Library branch! Learn how to research building code violations and property ownership in Chicago and Cook County. Look for them in the free resources area near the library entrance.

Signal Messenger Contact Follow this link to message on Signal.

If you're an immigration attorney whose client's case was dismissed by an IJ in 2025, can you contact me? DMs are open, and you can also Signal me: tinyurl.com/mwjwj4zs

For last Friday's edition of @injusticewatch.org's newsletter, I wrote about the ban on most print mail in Illinois prisons and spoke with several people about the impact of the new rule. Read the newsletter in full here, and subscribe if you don't already! mailchi.mp/injusticewat...

Disaster Recovery Is an $8 Trillion Driver of US Growth Investors are on the hunt for companies powering the disaster industrial complex, which are fueling US growth and outpacing the S&P 500

36% of all the growth in GDP since 2000 is "spending related to recovering from or preparing for disasters."

Congrats, Jake!

‘In No Way Are We Going to Accept This’: Johnson Vows to Resist Trump’s National Guard Deployment “We’re not going to be intimidated in Chicago,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “It’s my responsibility to stand up to tyranny and to make sure that we are defending the people of this city.”

Because there is SO MUCH going on right now, this one is worth your time: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson takes questions on “Chicago Tonight” (w/ @brandisfriedman.bsky.social)

this is cute as heck, Jake!

My friend shared some photos and videos of what she saw in front of Rico Fresh in Logan Square a short while ago.

Tear gas is a chemical weapon, @govpritzker.illinois.gov. The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 allows for its use in riot control. Is heckling ICE from the sidewalk as they drive by now "rioting"? Why are the Illinois State Police protecting ICE as they break the law?