Cook County Clerk Transition
Client: Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court | Partners: Protiviti, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila
Opportunity
The Circuit Court of Cook County is one of the largest unified court systems in the United States, serving more than 400 judges who hear cases in Chicago and Cook County. The Circuit Court Clerk plays a critical role in the efficiency and effectiveness of the court system, ensuring that legal processes run smoothly, that all necessary documentation and records are properly maintained, and that all fines and fees are disbursed.
In 2024, Mariyana Spyropoulos was elected Circuit Court Clerk on a promise of reform, fighting corruption and misconduct, digitizing to save money, and bringing the courts to the community. Based on our strong record of support for Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle during her transition into office, our team was asked to support the new Clerk in her transition to assume responsibilities with confidence and operational continuity.
Action
Civic Consulting Alliance supported the Clerk’s executive team in establishing and maintaining a Project Management Office (PMO) to track and advance priority initiatives over 4–6 weeks.
“Civic Consulting Alliance helped me hit the ground running, providing the guidance and expertise needed to modernize the Clerk’s office and deliver on the promises I made to improve access to justice.”
Key activities included:
Collaborated with the executive team and initiative owners to define objectives, stakeholders, milestones, resources, and timelines; finalized charters and identified a dedicated Project Manager.
Set up a progress tracker, defined internal and external meeting structures, and established reporting processes.
Facilitated sessions to align teams on leadership, charters, and cadence; supported initiative leaders in creating detailed work plans; transitioned meeting management to the Project Manager and Working Team Leaders.
Impact
Expanding to work with the Clerk’s office as a new client helped our team develop a deeper understanding of the operations and efficiencies of the court system, which is connected to many client initiatives within our Safety & Justice focus area.
Like many of the process improvement projects CCA undertakes, a complex, inefficient system will hurt low-income people the most, while those with means can navigate it more easily.
Civic Consulting Alliance supported the foundational work to bring meaningful, measurable change to an office that is central to the administration of justice in Cook County. The Clerk released a Progress Report 2025 with notable wins, including launching the office’s first-ever public-facing data dashboard and initiating an internal control audit that prioritizes financial oversight. Programs like Amnesty Week and the expansion of language access services are early examples of how this office is working to ease the burden on working families and remove longstanding barriers to the court system.