Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez speaking to reporters after giving her “State of the Clerk’s Office” address on Dec. 1, 2021, the anniversary of her swearing-in. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line] 

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez has made real progress on critical ethics and hiring reforms during her first year in office — but not enough to live up to her campaign promises or the hopes of good government advocates, according to a new report released by a trio of watchdog groups.  

Martinez’s office called the report misleading, saying her administration is doing its best to dig the office out from the dysfunction left by her predecessor.