The Illinois Supreme Court announced today the approval of amendments to Supreme Court Rule 41, which in 1971 established an Illinois Judicial Conference (IJC) "to consider the work of the courts, to suggest improvements in the administration of justice, and to make recommendations for the improvement of the courts.” 

The amendments are designed to create a smaller, more active and engaged IJC, which will be tasked with creating and implementing a long-term statewide strategic agenda for the judicial branch.

The rule change is effective Oct. 1. Amended Supreme Court Rule 41 is available on the court website.

The amendments to Rule 41 were proposed by a Strategic Planning Project Work Group (Work Group), convened by the director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC), Marcia M. Meis, and led by the Hon. S. Gene Schwarm (retired Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, 4th District). In researching the best practices for strategic planning, the work group looked at 26 state courts and the District of Columbia, ultimately selecting five states (Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) for in-depth review and interviewing key persons involved in strategic planning in those states. The work group used this information as well as input and insight from key stakeholders throughout the state, including the IJC's Committee on Strategic Planning, to create their strategic agenda proposal which was approved by the supreme court.

The new IJC will be comprised of 29 voting members: 15 judges and 14 non-judges, with the chief justice serving as chair. In addition to the chief justice serving as chair, the new structure includes the following members that are designated by position: the chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County; the chair and vice-chair of the Conference of Chief Circuit Judges; and the administrative director.

The new structure includes a total of 24 appointments by the court: another justice of the supreme court, a member of the Access to Justice Commission, a member of the Judicial College Board of Trustees, an appellate judge, judges representing each of the five appellate court districts, court clerks, trial court administrators, attorneys, members of the public and a non-judge involved in the judicial branch or administration of justice. The inaugural membership has staggered term end dates, resulting in a one-third turnover of membership per year after the inaugural terms. Members appointed or reappointed following these inaugural terms will serve three-year terms. Other than the inaugural membership, no member will serve more than two consecutive three-year terms (six years total), subject to the court’s discretion.

The amendments to Rule 41 allow the new IJC to establish ad hoc committees, taskforces, and workgroups, as necessary, and also provide for the AOIC to staff the new IJC. The IJC will meet at least once annually at a place and on a date to be designated by the chief justice.

When the appointment of the new IJC is completed, the group, facilitated by interactive sessions with a strategic planning consultant, will determine a mission statement, vision statement, and organization values to be included in the strategic agenda. This will be the development phase, with the implementation phase expected to begin in late 2019.