Judicial Education in Illinois
Judicial Education
Under the auspices of the Illinois Supreme Court, the Judicial Education Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts provides judicial and non-judicial branch education that considers emerging legal, sociological, cultural, and technical issues that impact decision making to ensure the effective administration of justice and to promote public integrity, trust, and confidence in the courts.
Education events are often planned and delivered in partnership with one or more of the following: the Access to Justice Commission, the Appellate Court Administrative Committee, the Illinois Judicial Conference Committees on Civil Justice, Criminal Justice, Education, Juvenile Justice, the Committee on Equality, the Judicial Mentor Committee, the Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Justice and Mental Health Planning, and Divisions of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, in addition to other entities.
Faculty Development
Participation in faculty development is strongly recommended. Faculty development workshops provide an opportunity for prospective faculty to learn and practice adult learning theories and overview educational activities meant to enhance participant engagement, identify and structure learning objectives and develop instructional strategies that lead to effective and successful presentations.
Minimum Continuing Judicial Education Hours
The Supreme Court of Illinois requires each active Illinois judge to attain 30 hours of continuing judicial education every two years through attendance at the biennial Education Conference.
Mandatory Events
Education Conference
Education Conference is held every two years in even years. The Conference is divided into two identical sessions – winter and spring. Circuit and Associate judge attendance is evenly divided between the winter and spring sessions. Appellate Court judges attend the spring session in conjunction with the Appellate Court Conference, a one-day event scheduled the first day of Education Conference.
Flexible Conference scheduling affords judges the opportunity to select from a wide range of topics over five days. The Conference Plenary is held on Wednesday morning of each Conference session – all the judiciary are required to attend. Conference sessions are selective and organized by topical tracks – Civil, Criminal, Ethics (Ethics, Judicial Conduct and Professionalism) and Family and may include experiential learning opportunities such as pre-Conference observations or Conference field trips.
New Judge Seminar
Newly elected and appointed judges are required by the Supreme Court of Illinois to attend the first New Judge Seminar offered after transition to the bench. New Judge Seminar is a five-day program with a curriculum that provides new judges the opportunity to overview and critically consider substantive and procedural matters, courtroom management, procedural fairness, access to justice, ethics, judicial conduct and professionalism, and decision making in a collaborative learning environment.
2016–2017 Judicial Education Events
General information about 2016–2017 Judicial Education events is shown below by month. Click on an event name for an overview of the seminar. For additional information, contact the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, Judicial Education Division, at (312) 793-2125 or 2011, or via email at juded_events@illinoiscourts.gov. If you have an interest in serving as either a member of a benchbook writing team, or judicial faculty for future judicial education events, please complete the  Judicial Education Volunteer Form.
ONLINE JUDICIAL EDUCATION REGISTRATION
Illinois Judges may register for any of the events below online through the Illinois Supreme Court Judicial Portal and Conference Management Application (CMA). Registration restrictions do apply. Please see registration details for each event, including whether the submission of an Authorization Form from the Chief Circuit Judge for associate and circuit judges is required.
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August 2016
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NJS Faculty Planning Kickoff for the January 2017 New Judge Seminar
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Event Overview
The New Judge Seminar Faculty Planning Kickoff will provide an opportunity for New Judge Seminar faculty to meet and begin preparation for the January 2017 New Judge Seminar, review learning activities and develop instructional strategies that will enhance presentations and increase participant engagement.
October 2016
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2016 Annual Meeting of the Illinois Judicial Conference
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Event Overview
The Annual Meeting of the Illinois Judicial Conference is constitutionally mandated to assist in the improvement of the administration of justice in Illinois.
Restricted to Members of the Illinois Judicial Conference
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2016 Access to Justice Seminar
Friday, October 28, 2016
Event Overview
This multidisciplinary seminar will engage participants in an interactive exercise that will enhance awareness of the diverse demography of litigants appearing in the Illinois courts. The seminar will highlight techniques that will foster procedural fairness in all aspects of the courthouse, including high-volume courtrooms, and engage discussion on the impact of unintended impact of unconscious influences.
CJ Authorization Form is required
November 2016
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Effective Pretrial Practices: 4th Appellate District
Friday, November 4, 2016
Event Overview
The Supreme Court has approved a seminar on pretrial practices to be held in each of the five appellate districts. In June 2016, the 23rd Circuit hosted the first event in the 2nd Appellate District.
This multidisciplinary event will focus on effective pretrial practices and principles, risk assessment instruments, the application of effective pretrial interventions, risks/needs-based decisions, offender risks, and victim and community considerations.
CJ Authorization Form is required
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Effective Pretrial Practices: 5th Appellate District
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Event Overview
The Supreme Court has approved a seminar on pretrial practices to be held in each of the five appellate districts. In June 2016, the 23rd Circuit hosted the first event in the 2nd Appellate District.
This multidisciplinary event will focus on effective pretrial practices and principles, risk assessment instruments, the application of effective pretrial interventions, risks/needs-based decisions, offender risks, and victim and community considerations.
CJ Authorization Form is required
January 2017
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2017 New Judge Seminar
Monday, January 23, 2017 – Friday, January 27, 2017
Event Overview
All newly elected and appointed judges are required to attend the first New Judge Seminar following a judicial election or appointment to the bench. The Seminar will provide an opportunity for the exploration of a range of procedural and substantive topics, and judicial ethics and courtroom demeanor. Sessions will focus on practical application and best practices to incorporate procedural fairness in courtroom management.
February 2017
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State & Federal Jury Representation Seminar
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Conference Overview
This one day seminar of state and federal judges and court administrators will focus on methods for enhancing jury diversity. The seminar will be divided into a morning session for Chief Judges and court administrators and an afternoon session that will include state and federal trial court judges. The morning session will address techniques and procedures that may increase the diversity of the venire. The afternoon session will address the desirability of a diverse jury for decision making and popular legitimacy and address ways trial court judges may insure diverse juries are actually seated, including a review of Batson v. Kentucky and Foster v. Chatman.
CJ Authorization Form is required
March 2017
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Effective Pretrial Practices: 3rd Appellate District
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Event Overview
The Supreme Court has approved a seminar on pretrial practices to be held in each of the five appellate districts. In June 2016, the 23rd Circuit hosted the first event in the 2nd Appellate District.
This multidisciplinary event will focus on effective pretrial practices and principles, risk assessment instruments, the application of effective pretrial interventions, risks/needs-based decisions, offender risks, and victim and community considerations.
CJ Authorization Form is required
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Effective Pretrial Practices: 1st Appellate District
Friday, March 3, 2017
Event Overview
The Supreme Court has approved a seminar on pretrial practices to be held in each of the five appellate districts. In June 2016, the 23rd Circuit hosted the first event in the 2nd Appellate District.
This multidisciplinary event will focus on effective pretrial practices and principles, risk assessment instruments, the application of effective pretrial interventions, risks/needs-based decisions, offender risks, and victim and community considerations.
CJ Authorization Form is required
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2017 DUI/Traffic Issues Seminar
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Event Overview
The DUI/Traffic Seminar will focus on offenses and cases relating to driving under the influence in addition to critical issues that arise throughout the process – from the initial arrest to sentencing. The seminar will also highlight emerging and evolving topics relating to driving under the influence and traffic offenses that judges in Illinois should be aware of.
CJ Authorization Form is required
April 2017
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Faculty Development Workshop
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Event Overview
Faculty Development Workshop will provide an opportunity for judicial faculty to review adult learning theories and engage in learning activities that will enhance participant engagement and develop instructional strategies that will lead to effective and successful presentations. Faculty Development is strongly recommended for consideration as event faculty.
CJ Authorization Form is required
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Education Conference 2018 Faculty Planning Kickoff
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Event Overview
Ed Con 2018 faculty will have the opportunity to meet and begin planning, focusing on learning objectives, learning activities/teaching methods and session materials. Training Managers and Committee on Education Liaisons will be present to aid planning efforts.
May 2017
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Appellate Court Conference
Monday, May 22, 2017 – Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Event Overview
The Annual Meeting of the Appellate Court and the Annual Appellate Court Conference provides a forum for the discussion and consideration of matters related to the administration of the appellate courts and the continuing education interests of the appellate justices.
This year, the second day will be presented jointly with the 2017 Law Clerk and Legal Research Staff Conference.
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2017 Supreme & Appellate Law Clerk and Legal Research Staff Conference
Tuesday, May 23, 2017 – Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Event Overview
The Conference will highlight effective writing and research, legal technology, ethical considerations, and address common issues and challenges.
The first day of the Conference will be presented jointly with the 2017 Appellate Court Conference.
June 2017
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2017 Advanced Judicial Academy
Monday, June 5, 2017 – Thursday, June 8, 2017
Event Overview
The biennial Academy offers an opportunity for judges to critically and analytically consider the intersection of law and other disciplines. The 2017 Academy shall study the relationship between Illinois history, the current work as judges, and challenges to be faced in the future. Participants will examine significant events in the history of Illinois law and government, discuss contemporary substantive law, and explore future trends and ideas.
August 2017
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Education Conference 2018 Faculty Planning Meeting
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Event Overview
Ed Con 2018 faculty will have the opportunity to meet and continue planning, focusing on learning objectives, learning activities/teaching methods and session materials. Training Managers and Committee on Education Liaisons will be present to aid planning efforts.
September 2017
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Biennial Juvenile Conference
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 – Thursday, September 28, 2017
Event Overview
The first Biennial Juvenile Conference will create an opportunity for judges statewide to discuss strategies and interventions for managing juvenile-related issues.
Future Programs and Events – Save the Date
New Judge Seminar
Monday, December 4, 2017 – Friday, December 8, 2017
For new judges who transition to the bench after January 23, 2017.
Education Conference 2018
Monday, February 5, 2018 – Friday, February 9, 2018
Monday, April 9, 2018 – Friday, April 13, 2018
 Comprehensive Judicial Education Plan for Illinois Judges
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