Within the next couple of months, bond court will no longer be held on the weekends at the county’s five suburban courthouses, according to a statement last week from the office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
The court consolidation will begin Jan. 7 at the Bridgeview courthouse and phased in at the others — Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood and Markham — over the next 60-90 days.
Consolidating weekend bond court at the Criminal Courthouse, at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago, is expected to save $1.9 million this fiscal year.
“Holding bond court on the weekend is expensive and diverts resources that could be dedicated to other functions within the County,” the statement said.
Currently, only Markham holds hearings on both Saturday and Sunday. The others are closed on Sunday.