Illinois judges have learned that they will be required to fulfill minimum continuing legal education standards similar to those that registered attorneys have begun to satisfy.

The state's 915 appellate, circuit and as--sociate judges have received letters outlining the requirement of 30 hours of judicial education over a two-year period, beginning in 2008. That year, an expanded 30-hour Judicial Education Conference will be conducted.

Judges will have to study substantive legal matters, professional civility and courtroom management, Chief Justice Robert R. Thomas advised them.

“At a minimum, judges should always be up to speed on the latest developments in the law,” Thomas said. “At the same time, judges are in a unique position to foster a culture of professionalism and civility.”

The court plans to hold expanded full-day education conferences every two years under the auspices of the Committee on Education of the Illinois Judicial Con-ference.

In addition, the committee will implement a series of day-long and multi-day regional programs for judges, who have been “strongly encouraged” to take 15 hours of CLE every year.

“The committee is working on developing a template so that we're sure that we cover what the Supreme Court wants us to cover in the 30-hour conference,” said 18th Circuit Judge Hollis L. Webster, its chair.

“We know that we will offer the bread-and-butter courses in civil, criminal, family, evidence law and ethics... We are optimistic that in 2008 it is going to be a good and beneficial conference,” she added.