October 28, 2019
The Illinois Judicial Conference (IJC) unveiled on Oct. 2 its Strategic Agenda for the Illinois Judicial Branch (Branch) through the year 2022. The IJC has created a mission statement, vision statement and core values for the Branch, along with strategic goals and the strategies designed to achieve them. The Strategic Agenda will serve as a guide for the future of the Branch as it begins the implementation phase.
“Change is coming so fast from ever-advancing technology, shifting demographics and economic uncertainty that the Judicial Branch could no longer be reactive to the challenges facing the administration of justice. This Strategic Agenda helps us anticipate and prepare for the future,” Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier said. “My colleagues and I commend the members of the Conference for the hard work they put into this plan and for the continuing work that lies ahead.”
The mission of the Branch will be “to protect the rights and liberties of all by providing equal access to justice, resolving disputes, and upholding the rule of law pursuant to the powers and duties entrusted to us by the Illinois Constitution.”
The vision of the Branch is “to be trusted and open to all by being fair, innovative, diverse, and responsive to changing needs.”
“It has been a joy to work with so many creative individuals from throughout the court system who are dedicated to making the Illinois Judicial Branch the very best that it can be,” AOIC Director Marcia M. Meis said. “This plan gives the Branch a heightened focus on how to best deliver justice throughout the state. The implementation phase will start in the coming months and will put these ideas into action.”
The core values of the Branch are:
Fairness – impartial in our actions, decisions, and treatment of all.
Accountability– responsible and answerable for our conduct and performance, and transparent in the use of public resources.
Integrity – honest, trustworthy, and committed to the highest ethical and professional standards.
Respect– treat all with dignity, courtesy, and understanding.
The strategic goals of the Branch are to provide:
- Accessible justice & equal protection under the law
- Procedural fairness, timeliness, & operational efficiency
- Professionalism & accountability throughout the judicial branch
- Understanding of & confidence in the judicial branch
- Sufficient funding & effective use of judicial branch resources
The full strategic agenda and IJC roster are available at: http://illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Jud_Conf/default.asp
“It is very positive that the Judicial Branch is involved in strategic planning. This is happening because of the leadership provided by the Chief Justice and the Director of the AOIC,” said retired Justice S. Gene Schwarm, who served as Strategic Planning Project Manager. “A cornerstone of strategic planning is open communication from top to bottom and vice versa. Reconstituting the Judicial Conference into a smaller, more diverse group has allowed many voices to be heard.”
The IJC, which crafted the strategic agenda, is comprised of 29 voting members: 15 judges and 14 non-judges, with the Chief Justice serving as Chair. The judicial members include a second member of the Supreme Court, as well as judges from all levels and geographic areas of the state appointed either by nature of their position or individually selected by the Supreme Court. The IJC non-judicial members include the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and 13 other justice partners selected by the Court from the following categories: court clerks, court administrators, attorneys and public members.
Click here to view photos from the unveiling.