AOIC’s Scott Block named group’s first Chairperson
On March 30, 2020, the Conference of Chief Justices, and Conference of State Court Administrators (CCJ/COSCA) established the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness (Task Force), with a charge to “assist state courts in their efforts to more effectively respond to the needs of court-involved individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.”
Led by an Executive Committee, joined by 40 additional judges, court, and behavioral health experts, and funded by the State Justice Institute, the Task Force engaged in research, developed tools and resources, delivered training, education, and technical assistance, and developed best practices and policy recommendations for courts and communities. As one of its recommendations, the Task Force strongly encouraged CCJ/COSCA members to “appoint a statewide behavioral health administrator” within each Administrative Office of the Courts to develop and lead efforts to improve the court’s response to behavioral health.
The Illinois Supreme Court was an early innovator of this approach when it established a Behavioral Health Administrator position within the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts’ (AOIC) Executive Division in 2021. At the time, the position was one of three across the nation, a number which has since grown to 20 with further growth anticipated.
With support and guidance from the National Center for State Courts, over the course of three days in June 2025, 19 behavioral health administrators from Administrative Offices of the Courts around the country convened in Chicago to formalize an organizational structure.
We are pleased to announce that the AOIC’s Behavioral Health Administrator, Scott Bock, was selected by his peers to serve as the National Council of State Court Behavioral Health Administrator’s Inaugural Chairperson. As Chairperson, Scott intends to work closely with his peers to formalize an operational framework for the Council, while connecting with key strategic partners to further efforts of National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness.