It is difficult to comprehend the lack of humanity we see every day. The shocking number of mass shootings including most recently in Buffalo and Texas. The daily gun violence that plagues so many cities nationally. The war and devastation in Ukraine and other parts of the world. The political and cultural divides that prompt so much hatred and harm. Among these tragedies, two years ago on this day - May 25, 2020 - George Floyd lay handcuffed with his neck pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis law enforcement officer as onlookers pleaded in vain for Mr. Floyd’s life.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced that Justice Kathryn E. Zenoff, a circuit judge of the 17th Circuit currently assigned to duty in the Second District Appellate Court, has been reassigned to duty in the Fourth District Appellate Court until further order of the Court, effective June 1, 2022.

Illinois judges are increasingly being recognized for their dedicated work in courtrooms throughout the state. Here are some of the recent honors received by Illinois judges:

The Illinois Courts Commission (Commission) announced that it has hired Shelley M. Bethune as its first Executive Director and General Counsel. Ms. Bethune will serve as the head of the agency and will supervise its day-to-day operations. Her first day will be June 1, 2022.

The Illinois Courts’ groundbreaking Illinois Court Help service marked its one-year anniversary on May 17, 2022. This innovative program provides court users with timely access to assistance with court processes, court forms, e-filing, and more. To celebrate this milestone, the Illinois Court Help team is sharing impactful court-user stories and data that demonstrate the positive effect the service has had on people in all corners of the state.

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission), and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) have launched the application process for two grant initiatives and are extending invitations to join their network of court personnel who assist self-represented litigants (SRLs).

The First District Appellate Court has adopted amended rules of procedure which became on May 2.

Around May 1 of each year, the ARDC submits its annual report to the Court chronicling all ARDC activities and initiatives during the prior year, as well as an accounting of ARDC’s finances. The 2021 Annual Report of the ARDC provides a comprehensive, statistical snapshot of the legal profession in Illinois.

In May 2022, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) awarded the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission a grant for $136,000 to digitize early Supreme Court case files.

Trailblazing Justice Rita B. Garman has announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court effective July 7, 2022. Justice Garman, 78, has served on the Supreme Court since 2001 and retires as the longest serving judge in Illinois. She served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 2013 to 2016.