Chicago’s largest police union is asking the state Supreme Court to weigh an appeal of a lower court ruling that requires public hearings for officers accused of egregious misconduct.

The Fraternal Order of Police argued that an appellate court panel “erroneously concluded” that well-defined policy requires public arbitration hearings in the most serious disciplinary cases, according to a court filing last week.

The yearslong battle over the handling of such cases has wound its way from the union bargaining table to the City Council floor and now to all levels of the state’s court system.

Cook County Judge Michael Mullen ruled in March that officers could bypass the Chicago Police Board and have their cases heard by an arbitrator, but that those hearings couldn’t be held in private.

Neither the city nor the union was pleased with the ruling, prompting an appeal.

In early August, a panel of three appellate judges upheld Mullen’s ruling, finding that moving hearings behind closed doors would violate public policy, which favors “police accountability and transparency.”

The union immediately signaled that another appeal was forthcoming, hoping the decision could be “rectified” by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Kyle Cooper, the police board president, said prolonging the court battle will only add to a growing backlog of cases and ultimately cost taxpayer dollars.

“The delay and uncertainty caused by this appeal deny accused officers, alleged victims of misconduct, and the public the timely resolution they deserve,” Cooper wrote in a statement Tuesday.

The board’s operations have already ground to a near halt. Twenty of the 24 officers with charges pending have chosen to take their cases to arbitration, according to a Sun-Times analysis.

That includes Eric Stillman, the officer who fatally shot 13-year-old Adam Toledo during a foot chase into an alley in Little Village in March 2021. Stillman fired a single shot into Toledo’s chest, a split-second after the teen dropped a handgun and raised his hands.

Attorneys for the police union declined to comment.

Cooper said he believes the appellate court’s decision is still likely to stand, as public hearings are “essential for ensuring accountability and increasing the community’s trust in the Chicago Police Department.”

Chicago’s largest police union is asking the state Supreme Court to weigh an appeal of a lower court ruling that requires public hearings for officers accused of egregious misconduct.

The Fraternal Order of Police argued that an appellate court panel “erroneously concluded” that well-defined policy requires public arbitration hearings in the most serious disciplinary cases, according to a court filing last week.

The yearslong battle over the handling of such cases has wound its way from the union bargaining table to the City Council floor and now to all levels of the state’s court system.

Cook County Judge Michael Mullen ruled in March that officers could bypass the Chicago Police Board and have their cases heard by an arbitrator, but that those hearings couldn’t be held in private.

Neither the city nor the union was pleased with the ruling, prompting an appeal.

In early August, a panel of three appellate judges upheld Mullen’s ruling, finding that moving hearings behind closed doors would violate public policy, which favors “police accountability and transparency.”

The union immediately signaled that another appeal was forthcoming, hoping the decision could be “rectified” by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Kyle Cooper, the police board president, said prolonging the court battle will only add to a growing backlog of cases and ultimately cost taxpayer dollars.

“The delay and uncertainty caused by this appeal deny accused officers, alleged victims of misconduct, and the public the timely resolution they deserve,” Cooper wrote in a statement Tuesday.

The board’s operations have already ground to a near halt. Twenty of the 24 officers with charges pending have chosen to take their cases to arbitration, according to a Sun-Times analysis.

That includes Eric Stillman, the officer who fatally shot 13-year-old Adam Toledo during a foot chase into an alley in Little Village in March 2021. Stillman fired a single shot into Toledo’s chest, a split-second after the teen dropped a handgun and raised his hands.

Attorneys for the police union declined to comment.

Cooper said he believes the appellate court’s decision is still likely to stand, as public hearings are “essential for ensuring accountability and increasing the community’s trust in the Chicago Police Department.”