Clerk Monica Gordon Celebrates Opening of Roseland Freedom Defense Center

cook County Clerk Monica Gordon speaks at the Grand Opening of the Roseland Defense Fund ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo provided by STH Media
cook County Clerk Monica Gordon speaks at the Grand Opening of the Roseland Defense Fund ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo provided by STH Media

Clerk Monica Gordon Celebrates Opening of Roseland Freedom Defense Center

Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon joined officials from the Cook County Public Defender’s Office and other community partners Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of the Roseland Freedom Defense Center, a first-if-its-kind facility that will provide much needed legal services and support for residents of the Southland.

 

Clerk Gordon, who represented the 5th District on the Cook County Board of Commissioners prior to her election as Clerk, helped secure funding and was involved in planning discussions for the center during her tenure on the Board.

 

“In my new role as the Clerk of Cook County, I have a homegrown understanding of the importance of this Freedom Center initiative,” said Clerk Gordon. “I understand the need for accessible and compassionate legal support for the residents of our communities who have too often been left without a voice in our legal system.”

 

The Roseland location is the first Community Defense Center to be launched by the Public Defender’s Office.  It will offer legal education, case management, mental health support, and access to public defenders – all in a welcoming, neighborhood-based setting. The initiative reflects a growing movement to shift legal services from reactive courtroom settings to proactive, restorative community engagement.

 

Clerk Gordon delivered the following remarks at Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony:

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 Clerk Gordon’s Remarks – Roseland Freedom Defense Center – 5/13/25

 

Good morning. It’s great to be here today with all of you in Roseland – and in the 5th District of Cook County – which I proudly represented when I served as Cook County Commissioner. 

In my new role as the Clerk of Cook County, I have a homegrown understanding of the importance of this Freedom Center initiative. I understand the need for accessible and compassionate legal support for the residents of this community – who have often been left without a voice in our legal system.

I want to thank the Cook County Public Defender’s Office for all the work that they have done to open this center and bring these much-needed services to Roseland.

When I served as Commissioner, I was very proud to play a role in securing funding for the Freedom Defense Center, and it gives me immense pride to see these doors now opening to serve the community.

Bringing traditional criminal legal defense services out of the courtroom and into the community is an amazing example of restorative justice, and it will be a game changer for so many who live and work here.

Today’s ribbon cutting marks the beginning of a new chapter – one rooted in justice, equity and empowerment. This Freedom Defense Center was born out of a simple but powerful idea that everyone, regardless of their income, background, or zip code, deserves fair representation and equal treatment under the law.

This is going to be a place where community members can turn to when they are trying to navigate the legal system in the best way possible. It will also offer important information such as legal education, case management, and mental health support.

Thank you all again for being here – and for allowing me to be a part of the foundation that has worked together to build and open this Freedom Defense Center. Let’s hope there will be many more to come throughout Cook County.

 

Thank you.

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