Law

Law Department

The Law Department is the primary legal advisory to Elected Officials, City Departments, and Boards and Commissions.

The Law Department represents the City in litigation either against or by the City, land acquisition, and disposition, assessments, prosecutes non-jailable violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code, City ordinance violations, including housing violations. The Law Department drafts and/or reviews all ordinances, Resolutions, and City contracts. The Law Department represents the City as an entity. It does not provide legal services or advice to individuals or businesses.

Grant Farrar, City Attorney
Katherine Agonis, Assistant City Attorney
Kenneth Cox, Assistant City Attorney
Michelle Masoncup, Assistant City Attorney
James Woywod, Assistant City Attorney
 

Administrative Hearings

The City of Evanston Division of Administrative Hearings began operations on January 1, 2000.

Under the administrative hearing system, the city agency that issues a ticket, complaint or notice of violation is not the city agency that hears the case. Cases are heard by law judges from the Division of Administrative Hearings. They issue final binding decisions.

An administrative hearing is a civil hearing. Cases filed in the Division may result in the imposition of fines, costs, liens, orders to desist or dismissals.

In an administrative hearing, the burden of proof required to prove a violation of a city ordinance is: by a preponderance of the evidence which means that more likely than not the violation occurred. It differs from a criminal proceeding in which the burden of proof required to prove guilt is: beyond a reasonable doubt.

Many types of cases involving violations of city ordinances have been transferred from the Cook County Circuit Court to the Division of Administrative Hearings so as to reduce litigation expenses and allow the Circuit Court to focus on the most serious offenses.

The City of Evanston is committed to making all public hearings accessible.

To contact the Hearings Division directly please call 847/448-8163.