By Jill E. Roberts, Deputy Director, Access to Justice Division
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) awarded $400,000 in grant funds to improve access to justice and services for self-represented litigants (SRLs) across the state. Thousands of litigants appear in Illinois courts without a lawyer every year. The growing number of SRLs in court is not unique to any one circuit, county, or case type. The ATJ Commission and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts Access to Justice Division (ATJ Division) recognize, given the size and diversity of Illinois, that local partners are critical to fully understand and address the needs of the SRL population. For these reasons, the ATJ Commission created a grant program to increase local partnerships, the Access to Justice Improvement Grant.
In addition to distributing grant funds, local court staff also participate in a statewide Court Navigator Network (Network) to receive training and share ideas about improving access to justice. This year, the Network met August 18-21 via Zoom for orientation and covered topics such as information versus legal advice and implicit bias. The Network will continue to receive training throughout the year as well as have opportunities to collaborate and share resources with their counterparts across the state. If you are interested in joining the Network, please email Jill Roberts, Deputy Director, Access to Justice Division at jroberts@illinoiscourts.gov.
Although there are Network members from every Judicial Circuit, here is just the list of this year’s newly awarded ATJ Improvement grant recipients and their grant projects:
- First Judicial Circuit:
- Brenda Sprague, Administrative Assistant to the Chief Judge, will serve all nine counties in the circuit to expand the Lawyer in the Library program to new locations and support the Illinois JusticeCorps fellow with circuit-wide mileage costs.
- Patti Clark, Director of Court Operations, Jackson County, will create posters and brochures for the public and have a public-use copy machine.
- Union County Circuit Clerk staff Terra Vancil will continue the Counsel in the Courthouse program and pay for copier, texting, supplies, and app maintenance.
- Williamson County Circuit Clerk Kristin Bayer will get a computer and printer, new signage, and have staff dedicated to assisting SRLs.
- Second Judicial Circuit:
- Erica Summers, Administrative Assistant, will maintain the Lawyer in the Library program to in four counties and expand to one new county.
- Lawrence County Circuit Clerk Cheryl Winkles will update the law library and SRL area of the courthouse.
- Third Judicial Circuit:
- Madison County Law Librarian Angela Wille will offer wireless internet, have staff for order of protection assistance, and expand services to Bond County.
- Madison County Circuit Clerk’s Office employee Terianne Edwards will use funds towards the copy machine rental and continue previous resources (text message reminders and AdGator digital screens).
- Fourth Judicial Circuit:
- Trial Court Administrator Jaime Warren will facilitate and support the Illinois JusticeCorps member’s travel throughout the circuit.
- Jasper County Circuit Clerk Jamie Blake will use the funds for translation devices, mobile app, daily docket, printer cartridges, paper, and maintenance of public use computers.
- Marion County Circuit Clerk Tiffany Schicker will obtain tablets, courtroom chairs, cell phone lockers, and conduct outreach efforts.
- Shelby County Circuit Clerk Peter Otis will use funds toward translation devices and a text message reminder program.
- Fifth Judicial Circuit: Cumberland County Circuit Clerk Rhonda Wilson will use funds for a copy machine, case management system and imaging systems, translation devices, and copy paper.
- Sixth Judicial Circuit: Macon County Judicial Clerk Supervisor Jennifer Michel will oversee the grant to assist with staffing the law library.
- Seventh Judicial Circuit: Macoupin County Circuit Clerk Amy Ashby will use funds for public access Westlaw and a text message reminder program.
- Eighth Judicial Circuit: Court Administrator Molly Caughlan will create SRL computer stations in the Circuit.
- Ninth Judicial Circuit:
- Hancock County Circuit Clerk Keara Weber will create a Lawyer in the Library program.
- Trial Court Administrator Sandy Redington will update technology and furniture for the SRL space in Warren County.
- Tenth Judicial Circuit:
- Marshall County Circuit Clerk Gina Noe will update technology equipment and furniture for the SRL space.
- Peoria County CFO Jennifer Shadid will use funds to support a staff member in the Peoria Law Library and Self-Help Center.
- Court Administrator Tricia Richmond will use funds to staff the library and self-help center in Tazewell County.
- Eleventh Judicial Circuit:
- Library Staff Mary Sellmyer will fund a train the trainers program on the Safe Harbor Policy in McLean, Ford, and Livingston Counties.
- Ford County Circuit Clerk Kasi Schwarz will obtain iPad communication devices and some supplies.
- Twelfth Judicial Circuit: Law Librarians Cheri Van Eck and Diane Brandolino will continue facilitating a Lawyer in the Library program.
- Thirteenth Judicial Circuit:
- Bureau County Circuit Clerk Dawn Reglin will start a Lawyer in the Library program which incolves technology, paper, and advertisement.
- Assistant Trial Court Administrator Michalah Mertel will use funds to support a self-represented litigant help center with staff in LaSalle County.
- Fourteenth Judicial Circuit: Rock Island Circuit Clerk staff Kate Anderson will obtain new SRL seating and translation devices.
- Fifteenth Judicial Circuit:
- Carroll County Circuit Clerk Patty Hiher will use funds for printing costs and e-citation and mobile app fees.
- Lee County Circuit Clerk Amy Johnson will use funds to have designated SRL assistant staff, as well as pay for the copy machine and AdGator.
- Stephenson County Circuit Clerk Shanelle Bardell will start a Lawyer in the Library program, maintain technology programs, and get new signage and supplies.
- Sixteenth Judicial Circuit: Law Librarian Halle Eichert will use funds to support the work of the Law Library.
- Nineteenth Judicial Circuit: SRL Coordinator Mireya Garcia will continue the online chat function on the court’s website and obtain Gimlet service, supplies, translation devices, and mobile standing desks.
- Twenty-First Judicial Circuit: Administrative Assistant to the Chief Judge Heather Ruel will continue to provide Westlaw access for SRLs and get translation devices and supplies.
- Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit: The DeKalb County Circuit Clerk’s Office will continue to have dedicated staff assist SRLs.
- Twenty-Fourth Judicial Circuit:
- Monroe County Circuit Clerk’s office staff member Sheila Jerls will get self-help center computers, furniture for the violence prevention area, and public access Westlaw.
- Trial Court Administrator Jeff Twardowski and Perry County Circuit Clerk Tricia Kelly Chandler improve SRL computers and furniture, set up a kiosk and signage, and cover public access Westlaw.
- Randolph County Circuit Clerk Julie Carnahan will update technology equipment and programs including public access Westlaw.
- Trial Court Administrator Jeff Twardowski will update Washington County’s SRL technology equipment.
- Circuit Court of Cook County: Cook County’s Executive Law Librarian Joane Kiley will purchase public access IICLE publications to be available in all the district’s law libraries.
Please join us in congratulating all ATJ Improvement grant recipients and encouraging their efforts to make Illinois courts better, easier, and more accessible for self-represented litigants. If you have any questions or are interested in joining the Network, please email Jill Roberts at jroberts@illinoiscourts.gov.