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 the pilot program, pro bono attorneys assisted with reducing the backlog by substituting for Office of the State Appellate Defender in certain criminal appeals. The pilot program started in the Illinois Appellate Court's First and Second Districts, and expanded to include the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Appellate Districts. The program is assisted by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

 NOTE: The program is not currently accepting applications. If the pro bono program is again recruiting volunteer attorneys, this page will be updated with relevant information.