The Shakman Decrees

In 1969, a federal civil lawsuit, Michael L. Shakman, et al. v. Democratic Organization of Cook County, et al., Case No. 69 C 2145 (the “Shakman case”), was filed by a group of plaintiffs against various defendants, including Cook County.  In 1980, the Sheriff of Cook County entered into a Consent Decree with the plaintiffs to resolve some of the claims made in the lawsuit.  The 1980 Consent Decree specifically prohibited the Sheriff’s Office from “conditioning", basing or affecting any term or aspect of governmental employment (with respect to persons once hired) upon or because of any political reason or factor. A subsequent Consent Decree was entered in 1984 that extended these prohibitions to include the Sheriff’s hiring practices; however, some jobs in the Sheriff’s Office are excluded from the protection of the Shakman litigation because they are exempt positions (read more). These agreements have collectively come to be known as the Shakman Decrees. The Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has retained jurisdiction over the case.  The Court's powers include the power to enforce the Consent Decrees.

The Compliance Administrator’s Appointment

On October 30, 2008, Judge Wayne Andersen, with the agreement of the Sheriff of Cook County and the plaintiffs, entered a Supplemental Relief Order in the Shakman case (“SRO”).  The SRO is intended to ensure that the Sheriff of Cook County complies with hiring and employment practices as they relate to political considerations, and to adjudicate claims of political discrimination.  Pursuant to the SRO, Judge Andersen appointed The Honorable Clifford L. Meacham (ret.) as the Shakman Compliance Administrator for the Sheriff of Cook County (“SSCA”), effective November 17, 2008.  The SSCA’s duties include studying existing employment practices, policies and procedures for non-political hiring, promotion, transfer, discipline and discharge; observing actual hiring sequences; assisting in formulating a new hiring plan; aiding in establishing a training program to educate and train supervisors and employees on non-political hiring practices; making recommendations to the Court as to how to resolve issues regarding Shakman exempt positions; monitoring compliance; adjudicating SRO violations, assisting with settlement and administration of post-SRO complaints and filing periodic reports.  The SRO contemplates an eighteen month plan by which the Sheriff’s Office, if found to be compliant by Judge Andersen, will be dismissed from the lawsuit. 

There are a number of components to the SRO and the SSCA’s duties.  Some are in the process of being addressed and some will be addressed in due course.  You may contact us at questions@sheriffshakman.com.  If you previously have contacted the SSCA’s office and did not receive a response, please contact us again.  Your input on any aspect of the SRO is important.

Claims

You may have a claim as an aggrieved individual if political considerations affected your job or you were denied employment because of political considerations.  If that is the case, visit the Forms page of this website for more information related to claims and/or to access a Claim Form.

www.sheriffshakman.com

This website addresses issues related to the Office of the Sheriff of Cook County only.  You can also find information at the Sheriff’s website, www.cookcountysheriff.org.  If you are looking for Shakman information related to other Cook County departments, visit www.countyshakman.com. If you are looking for Shakman information related to the Cook County Forest Preserve, visit www.cookfpshakman.com. If you are looking for Shakman information related to the City of Chicago, visit www.shakmanmonitor.com.