Board of Ethics

Any time limit associated with the commencement, filing or service of any legal action, notice, motion or process with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights or the Cook County Board of Ethics was tolled while the County remained closed to the public (March 16, 2020 through July 5, 2020). Hence, for example, for causes of action that accrued prior to March 16, 2020 and could have been timely filed on that date, the statute of limitations period is tolled for 112 days. For causes of action that accrued between March 16, 2020 through July 5, 2020, the statute of limitations period is tolled for the number of days between the cause of action accrual date and July 6, 2020.  

About the Board of Ethics

The Cook County Board of Ethics is responsible for enforcing the Cook County Ethics Ordinance. The Ethics Ordinance requires all Cook County officials and employees to abide by a Code of Conduct which sets forth general directives to ensure fair and honest government in Cook County. The Code of Conduct applies to officials, employees, persons doing or seeking to do business with the County, persons regulated by the County, persons seeking official action by the County and lobbyists. It covers the following areas:

• gifts and proper disclosure of gifts
• conflicts of interest
• improper influence
• dual employment
• confidential information
• county-owned property
• campaign contributions
• nepotism
• post-employment restrictions
• political activity

The Board enforces the Code of Conduct by investigating complaints of Ordinance violations and conducting related audits, issuing advisory opinions and providing other ethics advice, and designing and delivering ethics and other types of training sessions.