ILLINOIS COURTS 2020ANNUAL REPORT THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF ILLINOIS Left to Right: Justice David K. Overstreet, Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., Justice Rita B. Garman, Chief Justice Anne M. Burke, Justice Mary Jane Theis, Justice Michael J. Burke, Justice Robert L. Carter TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Letter of Transmittal 5 A Message from the Chief Justice 8 Strategic Agenda 11 Year in Review 16 Justices of the Supreme Court 19 Supreme Court Support Staff 21 Annual Report to the General Assembly 29 Supreme Court Committees 31 State and Local Funding for the Courts 38 Appellate Courts 50 Circuit Courts 77 Administrative Office 90 Statistical Summaries and Trends LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL On behalf of the in civil matters and for remote proceedings Court Services Division and the Office of Administrative Office in adult criminal matters. In addition Communications and Public Information, of the Illinois Courts to its response to the pandemic, other for the countless hours that are invested in (AOIC), I am pleased accomplishments in 2020 included release the preparation of this Report. The Annual to present the 2020 of a statement on racial justice and hiring of Report reflects the efforts and dedication of Annual Report of a Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the the individuals who comprise our judiciary, the Illinois Courts. judicial branch; launch of a volunteer pro bono non-judicial staff and justice stakeholders who The Report contains program to decrease the criminal appeals strive to advance fair, efficient, and affordable a summary of the backlog; and expansion of the Remote Access justice to all in Illinois. day-to-day operations Policy for Illinois licensed attorneys and legal of the Supreme, service providers. I hope that this Report serves as a valuable Appellate and Circuit Court, and highlights tool in understanding the work and function judges, court managers, committees, AOIC The Report contains an overview of the state of our state’s justice system. I invite you to and other justice partners who carry out the and local funding required for the operation explore the Illinois Supreme Court’s website work of the third branch of government. Also of our court system and current information at www.illinoiscourts.gov for the most current highlighted are some of the major initiatives on the judicial officers and employees who information concerning the Illinois courts undertaken and implemented in 2020. provide the people of Illinois with a court and court partners who comprise the judicial system that fairly and impartially administers branch of government. The Supreme Court, the dedicated employees justice and efficiently resolves disputes. of the Illinois court system, along with The Report also contains court data charts Sincerely, the judicial and non-judicial stakeholders, regarding the more frequently requested/ worked tirelessly in responding to the effects viewed statistics from the Supreme, Appellate of the pandemic on the court system and and Circuit Courts. Additional court data from ensuring access to justice. Those efforts each appellate district, circuit and county is included issuance of orders and operational available at https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/ guidelines to help courts resume in-person reports/annual-report-illinois-courts/. Marcia M. Meis operations and establish procedures for Director remote hearings; creation of a COVID-19 Task The AOIC acknowledges with appreciation Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts Force to make recommendations regarding the clerks of the Supreme, Appellate and continuing challenges resulting from the Circuit Courts for their continued support, pandemic; adoption of a new rule for practice commitment and cooperation in compiling and and procedure in eviction proceedings; and providing the data published in this Report. issuance of orders for remote jury selection I also thank the AOIC staff, particularly the ➔ BACKI 4 IL COURTS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 TO TOPI A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF JUSTICE ANNE M. BURKE the upcoming year, my colleagues and I will March 11: Message from Chief Justice Burke CHIEF JUSTICE continue our pursuit of ways to improve the Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Judicial BURKE Illinois court system. Branch Operations postponing in-person meetings, trainings and other scheduled events until further notice. Guidance is also I am honored to issued for courts to review pandemic and present the 2020 COVID-19 PANDEMIC emergency courthouse operations manuals. Annual Report of the Illinois Courts. The Illinois Court system continued to operate March 13: President Trump declares a National I join with my through the COVID-19 pandemic as a result Emergency. colleagues on the of constant communication and collaboration Illinois Supreme among the Supreme, Appellate and Circuit March 13: Illinois Supreme Court issues initial Court to inform citizens of the Court’s ongoing courts and other justice partners. Quick and guidance on procedures during COVID-19. efforts to promote efficiency, fairness and decisive action was taken to protect court March 17: Illinois Supreme Court issues judicial transparency. The Illinois Supreme staff and users while also keeping courts open order with additional guidance for appellate Court, assisted by the dedicated staff of our for essential matters. The Illinois Courts also and circuit courts to only hold essential Administrative Office and the judges and staff underwent a major transition to remote and proceedings in-person and to use remote members serving our court system, works hybrid proceedings. A look at the timeline of hearings whenever possible. to uphold individual rights and liberties, to events from the frantic first three months of promote the impartial interpretation of the the pandemic provide a window into how we March 20: Illinois Supreme Court issues order law, and to deliver equal justice in all matters got to where we are now. allowing continuance of trials. This order was brought before our courts. later amended twice. Timeline of the Court’s Response to It is certainly true that 2020 was a year COVID-19: March 24: Illinois Supreme Court extends filing like no other in recent history. The Court deadlines in the Appellate and Supreme courts. began hosting regular meetings between March 9: Gov. Pritzker issues a Disaster stakeholders at the Supreme, Appellate and Proclamation for Illinois. April 17: Illinois Judicial College hosts first Circuit court levels. Going virtual via Zoom COVID-19 related webcast, “Conducting allowed us to quickly visit with colleagues March 10: Illinois Courts COVID-19 Information Remote Hearings in Child Protection Cases.” from around the state without incurring the and Updates page goes live on the Supreme Many more webcasts will be held in the time and cost associated with travelling for in- Court website to serve as a statewide ensuing months to provide necessary Judicial person meetings. clearinghouse for supreme, appellate and Branch training during the pandemic. circuit court information related to the I will highlight below some of the judicial pandemic. April 20: Illinois Supreme Court approves branch’s major accomplishments in 2020. In three-month MCLE deadline extension for ➔ BACKI 5 IL COURTS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 TO TOPI A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE, CONTINUED attorneys at no cost. SUPREME COURT/ISBA LISTENING TOUR April 24: Illinois Supreme Court issues order I conducted a Listening Tour in conjunction limiting freezes on personal bank accounts to with the Illinois State Bar Association at ensure compliance with CARES Act. 10 locations throughout the state as a key May 12-14: Illinois Supreme Court holds oral initiative during my term as Chief. The tour arguments via Zoom for the first time in was scheduled to be held in person but was history with a livestream for public viewing on moved to a virtual format via Zoom due to YouTube. the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour kicked off in early 2020 with the first session held in May 20: Illinois Supreme Court issues order Madison County in the Metro East. This is the and guidelines for expanding in-person court offer best practices to aid in the administration hometown of ISBA President Dennis Orsey, operations beginning June 1. This order and of justice while maintaining practices to who served as moderator for all 10 sessions. guidelines recognized that each jurisdiction mitigate risk of COVID-19 resurgence and The Illinois Supreme Court has adopted a is uniquely positioned to address COVID-19 protecting court personnel and the public challenges based on local conditions. vision statement that strives for the judicial in unprecedented times. The increasing use system to be “trusted and open to all by being May 22: Illinois Supreme Court amended rules of remote hearings allows proceedings to fair, innovative, diverse and responsive to and guidelines to support the use of remote continue while minimizing the number of changing needs.” The public listening sessions hearings via telephone or video conferencing people in courthouses. In-person proceedings fostered discussion on local systems of justice in the courts and the official recording of resumed June 1 in most circuits and our Access and provided the Court an opportunity to hear these court proceedings. Cook, Lake and to Justice Division created guides in English about local issues – both the struggles and Kane counties establish or expand livestream and Spanish for steps to take when going to the successes to meet those changing needs. directories for remote hearings. the courthouse. May 22: Illinois Supreme Court issues This pandemic was not the crisis that we temporary order to ensure there are no asked for, but it may be the crisis we needed improper and unnecessary evictions and to bring about improvements in technology, ensure proper CARES Act protections are access to justice and other areas. The Court followed. realizes that the health crisis is not over, but we must continue to advance justice in a safe and June 1: In-person proceedings resume in most organized manner.