Executive Office | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts
(312) 793-3250 (Chicago Office)
(217) 558-4490 (Springfield Office)
AOIC Director Marcia M. Meis
Marcia M. Meis was appointed Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) on August 1, 2017. Ms. Meis is a graduate of the University of Missouri (Bachelor of Journalism) and DePaul University College of Law. After working briefly in private practice, Ms. Meis served as an Illinois Appellate Court law clerk for several years before joining the AOIC as an Executive Office Attorney in 1999. She subsequently served as Chief Legal Counsel before becoming AOIC Deputy Director in 2014.
In accordance with Article VI, section 16 of the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court appoints the Administrative Director who serves at its pleasure to assist the Chief Justice in his or her duties. In addition to these administrative duties, the Administrative Director serves as Secretary to the Illinois Courts Commission, as well as an
ex officio member of the Illinois Judicial Conference and the Supreme Court Historical Preservation Commission.
The AOIC Executive Office is comprised of the Administrative Director, Deputy Director, and other legal and administrative staff. Under the Administrative Director’s leadership, the Executive Office is responsible for coordinating and guiding operations of the Administrative Office’s seven divisions and serves as a central resource for a wide range of operational issues that impact the administration of the Illinois judicial branch.
The Executive Office, on behalf of the Supreme Court, manages and coordinates communications with court stakeholders, as well as state officials and agencies, on matters that impact the Illinois Courts and the justice system. One of the major duties performed for the Supreme Court is the consideration of nonroutine administrative matters presented during each Court term. The Administrative Director prepares and presents agenda issues to the Court for discussion and deliberation to assure that the business of the judicial branch is thoroughly and timely managed. Agenda items approved by the Court for action are then implemented by the Director through the Executive Office.
The Executive Office plans and coordinates Administrative Office staff support for Supreme Court Committees and the Illinois Judicial Conference. Effective October 1, 2018, the Judicial Conference was reconstituted to focus on strategic planning for the judicial branch. Specifically, the Judicial Conference was reconstituted as a smaller, more active body to create and implement a long-term statewide Strategic Agenda for the judicial branch. On October 2, 2019, the Judicial Conference unveiled the Supreme Court's Strategic Agenda, which was developed by the Judicial Conference and approved by the Court. The Strategic Agenda will serve as a guide for the future of the Illinois Judicial Branch as it begins the implementation phase in 2020 through the creation of several task forces. The Administrative Director assigns senior level staff to assist the Judicial Conference with its mandate. The recommendations flowing from the Judicial Conference to the Supreme Court will relate to the improvement of the administration of justice in Illinois.
In its administration of Supreme Court Rule 39 (Appointment of Associate Judges), the Executive Office conducted the election of 58 associate judges in 21 of Illinois' 24 judicial circuits during 2019. Also, as provided by Rule 39, the Executive Office is responsible for managing the quadrennial reappointment process for Illinois' more than 400 associate judges, which was held in 2019. Other matters administered through the Executive Office include applications for licenses issued to law students seeking to provide limited legal representation under Supreme Court Rule 711.
The Executive Office’s activities and responsibilities include securing and tracking legal representation through the Office of the Attorney General for members of the judicial branch named in a civil case or controversy arising out of the performance of their official judicial duties. Executive Office staff also negotiates, prepares, and manages office leases and contracts for the Supreme and Appellate Courts, mandatory arbitration programs, and the Administrative Office. All vendor contracts generated by the Administrative Office and state judicial branch managers for use in securing goods and services are reviewed and approved by the Executive Office.
The Executive Office also oversees the Logistics/ Property Control Unit. This unit serves as the central distribution and shipping center for the Administrative Office; produces print quality manuals, brochures, and publications; maintains inventories of office supplies; and coordinates the transfer of equipment and furniture among judicial branch offices. Finally, it is responsible for maintaining the physical inventory of all state-owned judicial branch property and ensures that judicial branch property is accurately recorded and bears the proper identification tag.
The Executive Office provides secretariat services to the Illinois Courts Commission, which includes filing and preservation of Commission records, distributing the Official Illinois Courts Commission Reports, and performing all other duties typically executed by a clerk of a court of record. Finally, Executive Office staff prepares and executes grants which provide for programming funded through the Lawyers’ Assistance Program Act.