Supreme Court Volunteer Pro Bono Program for Criminal Appeals | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Supreme Court Volunteer Pro Bono Program for Criminal Appeals

On February 11, 2020 the Illinois Supreme Court announced a pilot program utilizing volunteer pro bono attorneys to reduce the backlog of criminal appeals across the state that are currently pending with the Office of the State Appellate Defender (Press Release). In this pilot program, pro bono attorneys will assist with reducing the backlog by substituting for Office of the State Appellate Defender in certain criminal appeals. This pilot program will start in the Illinois Appellate Court's First and Second Districts and will receive assistance from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Upon favorable assessment of the pilot program, it would be expanded to include the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Appellate Districts.