Court Documents and Orders

Information on the following court documents and orders are made available on this page:

1978 Consent Decree

The 1978 Consent Decree declared that compulsory or coerced political financial contributions by any governmental employee, contractor or supplier, to any individual or organization and all compulsory or coerced political activity by any governmental employee are prohibited, and once hired, a governmental employee is to be free from all compulsory political requirements in connection with his employment.

Each of the Defendants are permanently enjoined form directly or indirectly:

  • Conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of governmental employment, with respect to who is at the time already a governmental employee, upon or because of any political reason or factor.
  • Knowingly causing or permitting any employee to do any partisan political work during regular working hours of his or her governmental employment or during time for by public funds.
  • Knowingly inducing, aiding, abetting, participating in, cooperating with or encouraging the commission of any act which is proscribed by this paragraph or threatening to commit any such act.

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1994 Consent Decree

This Decree incorporated the 1978 Consent Decree’s prohibitions and extended them to include the District’s hiring practices. The Decree further directed the Forest Preserve President to create, and file with the Court, a Plan of that was to set forth in detail a method or methods of hiring using objective criteria and included requirements applicable to Notices of Job availability.

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2004 Plan of Compliance

The 2004 Plan of Compliance implemented the prohibition against political considerations from affecting hiring, promotion, discharge or other employment decisions. The Plan required the Published Notice of Job Openings; the Public Notice of Job Availability, including promotions; required the Forest Preserve District to pre-screen all job applicants to determine eligibility and required that candidates selected for interviews to have met the minimum qualifications; set the minimum number of candidates who must be interviewed; required that interviewers be trained in interviewing skills and be knowledgeable about the Judgment and the Plan; established factors which may be considered in the ranking of candidates and ranking categories; established duties of the District’s Shakman “Compliance Officer”; set the District’s reporting duties; required the District to distribute Notices of the Plan to all employees; provided instructions regarding action to be taken upon receipt of a Patronage Contact.

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view 2004 Plan of Compliance | back to top

2009 Supplemental Relief Order

The 2009 Supplemental relief Order required the President of the Board of Forest Preserve Commissioners to promulgate an Executive Order forbidding unlawful political discrimination in all aspects of non-exempt employment.

The SRO further established the Office of Forest Preserve District Compliance Administrator (“DCA”). The DCA is an agent of the Court and not the District or the County. Specifically, the SRO ordered the DCA to:

  • study the District’s existing employment practices, policies and procedures for nonpolitical hiring, promotion, transfer, discipline and discharge;
  • review the District’s Hiring practices and recommend change, where warranted;
  • meet with District employees to answer questions and provide guidance;
  • establish a “Train the Trainer program” for supervisors to educate and train employees on appropriate politics-free employment practices;
  • monitor the District hiring processes;
  • investigate and adjudicate claims brought before the DCA pursuant to the SRO;
  • make recommendations to District regarding changes to the New Hiring Plan the DCA believes necessary to effectuate a culture free of political considerations in all non-exempt aspects of governmental employment and shall work with the District ;
  • submit periodic reports to the Court.

The SRO further establishes a process for adjudication of claims, including claims of retaliation, for events occurring after the close of the Claims period.

Finally, as mandated by the SRO, prior to the dissolution of the office of the DCA and jurisdiction of the Court over the District in the Shakman matter, the DCA must advise the Court whether the DCA believes the District is on Substantial Compliance with the SRO.

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President's Executive Order 2009-1

On April 1, 2009, Forest Preserve District President Stroger signed Executive Order 2009-1. This Order:

  • Sets out the district goals to ensure that its hiring practices are free from political influence;
  • Prohibits conduct by district employees with respect to political hiring;
  • Requires reporting of such conduct;
  • Prohibits retaliation by district employees against anyone making such a disclosure;
  • Provides that violations of this Order will be grounds for disciplinary action, including termination;
  • Pledges that the district is committed to preventing the use of political considerations in connection with employment practices (except as provided), and they the district will fully cooperate with the Monitor and his staff and with the districts Inspector General.

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The Forest Preserve District of Cook County's Third Amended List of Exempt Positions

The Court has found that certain positions in governmental employment, by their nature, involve policy-making to such a degree or are so confidential in nature that they should be exempt from the provisions of the Orders in the Shakman case regarding political discrimination in hiring. The current and controlling list of exempt positions as of January 14, 2009 is published below. The Court has reserved the right to modify exempt positions should circumstances warrant.

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