Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos Hosts Second Chance Summit to Make Justice Accessible

Clerk of the Circuit Court Mariyana Spyropoulos
Clerk of the Circuit Court Mariyana Spyropoulos

Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos Hosts Second Chance Summit to Make Justice Accessible

Event will deliver free legal help, record-clearing services and second-chance job connections to ensure expungement and sealing rights are accessible to all Cook County residents.

COOK COUNTY – Clerk of the Circuit Court Mariyana Spyropoulos announced the upcoming Second Chance Summit, a countywide initiative to ensure that the legal right to expungement and record sealing is not just written in law, but accessible in practice to every resident who qualifies.

On Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., residents will gather at Proviso Math and Science Academy, 8601 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, Illinois, for a day dedicated to clearing past records, opening new opportunities and connecting people to critical community resources. At the event, participants can receive free legal guidance, have petitions for expungement or record sealing prepared on-site and meet directly with employers committed to second-chance hiring.

“Expungement and record sealing are rights under Illinois law, but rights are meaningless if people can’t access them,” said Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos. “Our justice system must be more than words on paper; it must be a bridge to opportunity. This summit is about removing obstacles, restoring dignity and making sure no one’s future is limited by a past they have worked hard to overcome.”

Attendees will have access to legal assistance from attorneys with Cabrini Green Legal Aid and other volunteer lawyers who will walk them through each step of the process. "The collateral consequences of any contact with the criminal legal system are far reaching and have devastating impacts on individuals, families, and entire communities," said CGLA Executive Director Aisha Edwards. "Partnering with the Clerk's office helps CGLA further our purpose of removing barriers to equity."

In addition to legal help, the summit will feature a robust resource and job fair, with dozens of community organizations, training providers and employers ready to hire qualified candidates.

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