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SPRINGFIELD — To address safety gaps and prioritize continuous protection for victims in Illinois’ justice system, State Senator Robert Peters led a law to secure petitioning eligibility for protective orders during criminal proceedings.

“All victims of violence deserve to feel protected in our state’s justice system, and they especially deserve to feel free from further harassment or abuse, which is exactly what this law ensures,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “It is incredibly rare for victims to seek justice through legal avenues, so we must make sure that when victims come forward, we’re prioritizing their dignity and safety.”

Peters’ law builds on the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, which prohibits orders of protection from being denied solely based on the incarceration status of either the petitioner or the respondent, ensuring the logistical timing of incarceration does not outweigh victims’ access to legal protections.

SPRINGFIELD — To fulfill Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s vision of ensuring every high school student graduates with both a diploma and voter registration card, State Senator Robert Peters championed a law that recognizes education and civic engagement go hand in hand. 

“I worked with a coalition of civic advocates throughout this process who all had one goal: honor the legacy of civil rights pioneer Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who acted as a towering and unwavering figure of racial and political equity for decades,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This law does exactly that by ensuring our state’s youth are presented a meaningful opportunity to register to vote before they graduate, in turn keeping Illinois on a path of progress and justice.”

Studies show that people who vote earlier in life are more likely to remain active voters and participants in their communities for decades to come, yet high school students are not automatically provided the resources needed to register once they age into the electorate.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters’ law creating the Office of the State Public Defender, an independent office under the state’s Judicial Branch – marking one of the most substantial reforms of Illinois’ public defense system since 1949 – goes into effect July 1.

“When I worked to get this law over the finish line last spring, it was with the knowledge that Illinois not only has disparities in its justice system, but also that we have a duty to reduce them,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “There are too many instances where someone is punished with a harsher sentence or a wrongful conviction, and this law is going to directly mitigate that harm in our communities and preserve residents’ constitutional right to counsel.”

A state public defender is a government-employed lawyer who provides legal representation to individuals accused or convicted of crimes who cannot afford to hire their own attorney. Public defender offices are one of three methods through which states and localities ensure defendants are granted the 6^th  and 14^th Amendments right to counsel.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the Senate passed House Bill 958, a measure that would create an avenue to keeping the Bears in Chicago:

“As a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears and the state senator who represents Soldier Field, I would like nothing more than for the team to stay in Illinois, specifically in Chicago and in the stadium our taxpayers have been funding for over 20 years.

“My understanding is this proposal gives the Bears everything they’ve publically asked for and gives Chicago a good chance to keep the team in the city, which is why I voted ‘yes.’ If the Bears break the trust of our great city, then it is vitally important that we ensure Soldier Field and the Museum Campus – our state’s front yard – receive the infrastructure improvements they so desperately deserve.    

“Since the Bears first looked to move to Arlington Heights in 2021, I’ve held the opinion that the Chicago Bears should be a Chicago-based team and should be dedicated to the betterment of Chicago’s lakefront communities. However, it cannot be at the expense of our taxpayers who have already put billions into the pockets of the team’s owners. My priority is and always will be my residents, and HB 958 puts residents first.”