Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

"Equal justice for all" is one of our state's most proudly proclaimed principles. Yet, a large number of Illinoisans—often with urgent and important issues at stake—find themselves without legal assistance to help them with their legal problems. The legal aid and pro bono system in Illinois is able to address only a small fraction of the civil legal problems encountered by low-income and vulnerable Illinoisans. For unrepresented individuals, equal access to justice is nowhere close to a reality.

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice was created by the Illinois Supreme Court in June 2012 to "promote, facilitate and enhance equal access to justice with an emphasis on access to the Illinois civil courts and administrative agencies for all people, particularly the poor and vulnerable." Illinois Supreme Court Rule 10-100.

Chair
Justice Mary K. Rochford
Justice, Illinois Appellate Court

Members
Justice Mary K. Rochford
Justice, Illinois Appellate Court

Carolyn H. Clift
Attorney at Law (Ret.)

Linda T. Coberly
Winston & Strawn LLP

Hon. Thomas M. Harris, Jr.
Justice, Illinois Appellate Court

Hon. Leonard Murray
Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County

Jennifer T. Nijman
Partner, Nijman Franzetti LLP

Hon. Jorge Ortiz
Circuit Judge, 19th Judicial Circuit

Justice Daniel J. Pierce
Justice, Illinois Appellate Court

Wendy Vaughn
Clinical Associate Professor, Northern Illinois University College of Law

Andrew M. Weaver
Senior Supervising Attorney, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation

Tammy R. Weikert
Circuit Clerk of Rock Island County

Supreme Court Liaison
Justice David K. Overstreet
Illinois Supreme Court

AOIC Staff Contact
Alison Spanner
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
Access to Justice Division
222 N. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
Email: aspanner@illinoiscourts.gov
Phone: 312.793.3859