During June’s ISBA Member Appreciation Month, the Illinois Bar Journal ran a contest asking members to tell us their “most notable artificial intelligence (AI) experience, whether a triumph or fiasco.” IBJ judges sifted through all the entries and chose six to be published in the September issue. The IBJ awarded first place and a $100 Visa gift card to Joe Giamanco of Bolingbrook-based Giamanco Law Partners Ltd. for his description of how he is using AI to supercharge his small firm.

The Illinois Supreme Court invites applications from individuals interested in serving as the initial Illinois State Public Defender, a new chief executive role overseeing an independent agency within the Judicial Branch. In this role, the selected individual will be the State's leading advocate for Illinois’ public defenders and for the constitutional rights of people charged with offenses and represented by Illinois’ public defense system.

Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford of the Supreme Court of Illinois has announced the formation of a standing Judicial Screening Committee (Committee). The Committee has been formed for the purpose of assessing the qualifications of those who apply for appointment to vacancies in the Supreme Court’s 19th Judicial Circuit – Lake County. Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies on the Circuit and Appellate Courts are filled on an interim basis by Supreme Court appointment. Appointed individuals then must run in the next election to maintain the seat.

The Illinois Supreme Court has released the Illinois Courts 2025 Annual Report. The Report contains a summary of the day-to-day operations of the Supreme, Appellate and Circuit Court, and highlights the work of Illinois judges, court managers, committees, AOIC and other justice partners who keep the trains running for the third branch of government.