ATJ Commission Seeks Volunteers for Community Trust and Disability Access Committees
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) is charged with promoting accessible, responsive, fair, inclusive, safe, unbiased, and welcoming courts. To help achieve this vision, the ATJ Commission created the Community Trust and Disability Access Committees, both of which are seeking applications for new volunteer members from Illinois who would like to contribute to these efforts.
If approved, members are expected to serve three-year, renewable terms and are expected to prepare for, attend, and contribute to monthly Committee meetings.
In 2017, the Community Trust Committee was established to guide the ATJ Commission in the development of policies and programming which strengthen public trust and confidence in the courts by building meaningful relationships between courts and the communities they serve. The Community Trust Committee works with community-based organizations that are established and trusted within their communities to gather direct feedback from court users. Through listening sessions, community panels, and user testing initiatives, the Committee elevates community perspectives and integrates them into court improvement efforts, including form design, policy development, and access to justice initiatives affecting communities that experience barriers when accessing justice.
In 2022, the ATJ Commission established the Disability Access Committee to assist in developing policies and programs that address barriers to equitable access to Illinois courts faced by people with disabilities. The Disability Access Committee promotes equal access to the court system by partnering with the disability community and by engaging all stakeholders, from the community to the courtroom, to identify and address barriers to the court and legal process. The Committee is comprised of statewide public and private justice partners and advocates, including people living with disabilities, who work to promote disability access across the Illinois legal landscape.
Previous initiatives of the Disability Access Committee include the 2024 revision to the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for People with Disabilities, developing bench cards related to disability access, creating training content for Court Disability Coordinators, administering the ATJ Commission’s Disability Access Grant, and more.
To apply for an open volunteer position, please complete an application for the Community Trust Committee or the Disability Access Committee.
All applications are due April 24, 2026.
If you have any accessibility needs or accommodations that you will need to apply for a position on the Community Trust or Disability Access Committees, to request a Word or PDF version of the application, or for questions regarding the application, please contact August Hieber at ahieber@illinoiscourts.gov.