Crook County

The theme of racial colorblindness in the courts, particularly in the Cook County Courts, runs as a throughline in Gonzalez Van Cleve’s book. Also called race neutrality, racial colorblindness is a racial ideology that holds that the best way to end racism is to treat all individuals equally, without regard to race or ethnicity. Proponents of racial colorblindness believe that skin color is immaterial to a person’s character, ability, and worthiness. Moreover, they hold that skin color is irrelevant in a merit-based society. Proponents of racial colorblindness claim not to ‘see’ skin color and believe that ignoring race is the best way to avoid discrimination.

Gonzalez Van Cleve points to the problems of racial colorblindness at the Cook County Courts. Most defendants in Cook County are Black or Latinx, while most defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and sheriffs are white. Court professionals treat non-white visitors to the court, including defendants, victims, and family members, differently than white visitors. Gonzalez Van Cleve provides many examples of unequal treatment, including guards stopping Black drivers wanting to access the parking garage but not stopping white drivers; sheriffs verbally abusing Black people for crossing physical or symbolic boundaries inside the courtroom; and prosecutors and judges mocking, berating, and harshly penalizing Black defendants.