On October 28, 1969, a lawsuit titled Michael Shakman v. Democratic Organization of Cook County was filed, asking the court to prohibit the Cook County Assessor's Office and other governmental entities from conditioning, basing, or affecting any aspect of governmental employment based upon political reasons. In 1972 and in 1975, the court agreed and entered Consent Decrees with respect to the Assessor's Office. The Court also retained jurisdiction of the case to oversee issues of political hiring and the designation of positions that are exempt from Shakman-related oversight.
On August 15, 2012, the Assessor's Office entered into an Agreed Order. This Order provided the framework for additional policies and procedures to assure that all aspects of employment are free from unlawful political discrimination in the Assessor’s Office. The Assessor subsequently developed and implemented an employment plan to prevent political factors from influencing any employment actions.
On November 1, 2022, the Federal Court found that the Cook County Assessor achieved substantial compliance with the agreed order and was no longer subject to federal oversight. In a hearing, Judge Edmond Chang found the Assessor’s Office in substantial compliance with the Shakman cases’ consent decree. Judge Chang noted that Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s leadership and public statements “set the tone” for the office’s “good faith attempts” to meet the terms of the consent decree. He also noted there had been no findings of unlawful political discrimination during the first four years of Assessor Kaegi’s administration.
The finding of substantial compliance is due to the Assessor’s Office’s creation and continuous implementation of an employment plan for all staff. The Assessor’s Office Employment Plan ensures the absence of political factors in employment decisions and provides procedures that prevent politics from interfering with employment actions in the office. Though the consent decree was lifted, the Assessor’s Office retains a two-person internal compliance team to ensure the Office follows its Employment Plan and maintains a hiring process free of political influence.
Director of Compliance
The Shakman case prohibits the consideration of Political Reasons or Factors in all aspects of employment with the Assessor's Office. This means that politics cannot be considered in the hiring, termination, promotion, transfer or in any other action pertaining to employees or to individuals applying for positions with the Assessor's Office. There are a few exceptions. These positions are called Exempt Positions. Political Reasons or Factors can be considered in the hiring or termination of employees holding Exempt Positions.
The documents that specifically address these prohibitions:
- Agreed Order
- Employment Plan
- Assessor's Executive Orders:
Whistleblower Protection Policy and Prohibition of Political Discrimination
In furtherance of the Assessor's Office's commitment to engage in fair, transparent and non-political hiring and employment practices as required by the Shakman case, the Cook County Assessor hired a Director of Compliance (DOC). The Director of Compliance functions as the Employment Plan compliance officer for the Office and has responsibilities which include the following:
- Overseeing compliance with the Employment Plan and policies referenced in the Employment Plan, including the monitoring and auditing of employment actions.
- Maintaining and reviewing the Exempt List.
- Accepting, investigating, and reporting on complaints related to alleged technical violations of the Employment Plan.
- Accepting, investigating, and reporting on complaints related to Unlawful Political Discrimination in Employment Actions and Political Contacts.
- Investigating alleged violations of policies in the Employee Handbook referenced in the Employment Plan.
- Working with Human Resources to implement training programs to educate employees on the Employment Plan and the prohibition of Unlawful Political Discrimination.
Director of Compliance Semi-Annual Reports and Quarterly Reports
- Semi-Annual Reports
See the Director of Compliance Semi-Annual Reports below.
2025 March September 2024 March September 2023 March September 2022 March September 2021 March September 2020 March September 2019 March September 2018 March September 2017 March September 2016 March September - Quarterly Reports
Reports for the Assessor's Office which include the total number of New Hires, Promotions, Demotions, Transfers, Terminations, Reclassifications, Layoffs, and Resignations by Department for each three-month period.
Director of Compliance (DOC) The Director of Compliance (DOC) is a non-exempt position in the Assessor's Office. The Director of Compliance operates with the requisite independence necessary to fulfill the duties of the position as set forth in the Agreed Order and the Employment Plan.
Contact Information
John Barrientos
Director of Compliance
Cook County Assessor’s Office
118 N. Clark St., 3rd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
312-603-5331| Email: assessor.compliance@cookcountyil.gov
Employment Plan
To advance the goal of bringing the Assessor's Office into compliance with the Court's orders, the Office has developed an Employment Plan. It includes the general principles that govern the Assessor's Office's hiring and employment policies and applies to current and future employees. The plan also implements pro-active and transparent policies, practices, and procedures that address the prohibition and influence of political reasons and factors in the employment process.
- Exempt Positions
An exempt position is one that involves policymaking to an extent or is confidential in such a way that political affiliation is an appropriate consideration for the effective performance of the job.
- Actively Recruited Positions
Actively Recruited Positions are high-ranking or technical/professional-related positions for which discretion and flexibility in hiring are necessary, appropriate, and justifiable. Actively Recruited Positions are the following.
- Non-exempt positions
- Not covered by a CBA
- At-will
- Either (a) responsible for the day-to-day performance of a high-level technical/professional function or (b) responsible for the day-to-day supervision of at least three Employees.
- Have minimum qualifications that require either (a) a Bachelor’s degree or (b) at least five years of full-time work experience relevant to the position.
- Executive Assistants
An Executive Assistant reports directly to an Exempt Deputy or Director. The primary duties of the Executive Assistant include the performance of executive-level administrative services for the Exempt Deputy or Director.
Executive Assistants are:- Not covered by any CBA
- At-will
- Are not exempt positions.
Opportunity to File a Complaint
Any person - including a current employee or an applicant for a position at the Assessor's Office- who believes he/she has been subject to unlawful political discrimination may file a complaint. Please click here for further information and/or to complete the form:
Director of Compliance: John Barrientos | Email: assessor.compliance@cookcountyil.gov