Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Evanston Reparations Program to Proceed

Conservative group Judicial Watch claims program violates Equal Protection Clause

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit challenging Evanston, Illinois' reparations program can move forward. The lawsuit was filed in 2024 by six Evanston residents with hereditary ties to the city and the conservative activist group Judicial Watch. They claim the program, which provides housing assistance funds only to Black residents, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Why it matters

Evanston's reparations program, the first of its kind in the U.S., has been closely watched as a potential model for other cities looking to address historical racial inequities. This lawsuit could set an important legal precedent on the constitutionality of race-based reparations programs.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in 2024 and claims Evanston's Local Reparations Historical Housing Program, which provides $25,000 grants to eligible Black residents for home repairs or down payments, discriminates based on race. The judge, who was appointed by former President Trump, ruled that the case can move forward but did not comment on the merits of the original lawsuit.

  • The lawsuit was filed in 2024.
  • The judge's ruling allowing the case to proceed was issued on March 27, 2026.

The players

Judicial Watch

A conservative activist group that filed the lawsuit against Evanston's reparations program.

Michael Bekesha

A senior attorney at Judicial Watch who said the group is looking forward to proving the Evanston program is unconstitutional.

Judge Kness

The federal judge who ruled that the lawsuit against Evanston's reparations program can move forward, though he did not comment on the merits of the case.

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What they’re saying

“We're looking forward to proving that Evanston's reparations program is unconstitutional. The eligibility criteria are based on the color of someone's skin and not on whether they had actually been harmed by the city of Evanston.”

— Michael Bekesha, Senior Attorney, Judicial Watch

What’s next

The judge's ruling allows the lawsuit to proceed, setting the stage for a legal battle over the constitutionality of Evanston's reparations program.

The takeaway

This case will have significant implications for the future of race-based reparations programs across the country, as the courts weigh whether such initiatives violate the Equal Protection Clause.