2016 Annual Report of the Illinois Courts
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2016 Annual Report of the Illinois Courts Administrative Summary THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF ILLINOIS Left to Right: Justice Anne M. Burke, Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, Justice Charles E. Freeman, Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, Justice Robert R. Thomas, Justice Rita B. Garman, Justice Mary Jane Theis. TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter of Transmittal .................................................................................................... 1 A Message from the Chief Justice ............................................................................. 2-5 Annual Report of the Chief Justice to the One-Hundredth General Assembly ....................................................... 6-11 Court Funding ....................................................................................................... 12-13 Court Operations ................................................................................................... 14-15 The Justices of the Supreme Court ........................................................................ 16-17 Supreme Court Support Staff ................................................................................ 18-19 Supreme Court Committees........................................................................................ 20 Judicial Conference Committee Activities .............................................................. 21-23 Appellate Court .................................................................................................... 24-29 Circuit Courts ....................................................................................................... 30-51 Administrative Office ............................................................................................. 52-58 One Cover Design: “Law and Knowledge” — “Justice and Power” by Charles J. Mulligan (1866-1916) of two statues face visitors as they enter the main (north) entrance of the Supreme Court Building in Springfield. The one on the right, “Law and Knowledge” [front cover] and the other statue to the left, [back cover] “Justice and Power” were completed sometime between 1908 and 1910. Sculptor Charles J. Mulligan was born in Ireland and arrived in Chicago in 1872 with his father James. His start as a sculptor began by modeling clay dug from the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and later as a marble-cutter in Chicago. He studied under Lorado Taft at the Art Institute of Chicago and Alexander Faleuiere in Paris, France. He succeeded Taft as the head of the Department of Sculpture at the Institute and served in that role until his death. Some of his other works appear in Garfield Park, Chicago (Lincoln as a Railsplitter and the John F. Finnerty statues); Riverview Park, Quincy (General George Rogers Clark statue); and Rosemond Grove Cemetery, Rosemond (Lincoln the Orator statue). Photos provided by Artistic Portraits. Printed by Authority of the State of Illinois 12-17/250/PR17-1961 Table of Contents 2016 Annual Report • SUPREME COURT OF ILLINOIS • Administrative Summary Director’s Letter of Transmittal _____________________________________________________________________________ I am pleasedLETTER to offer the 2011 Annual OF Report TRANSMITTAL of the Illinois Courts. The following pages provide a brief summary of the day-to-day operations of our court system and an overview of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Highlighted herein are some of the many initiatives undertaken and achieved by the Illinois Judicial Branch last year. In a time where resources are declining and change is constant, most notably in technology, the Supreme Court continues its strongt is and my innovativepleasure to leadership present theto meet 2016 myriad Annual challenges. Report of Inthe 2011, the Court initiated multipleIllinois projects Courts. and The policies Report tocontains ensure athe summary availability of the and day delivery of critical judicial branchIto-day services operations. of our court system and an overview of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Highlighted in the Report are some of the many initiatives undertaken and implemented by The Report, in two volumesthe, includes Illinois Judicialan Administrative Branch this Summarypast year. presenting The Supreme a message Court and from the Chief Justice andthe the dedicated 2011 Report employees to the of Illinoisthe Illinois General court Assemblysystem continued. The Administrative Summary alsothe contains important an workoverview of the of courts the shared with anstate emphasis and local on technology,funding responsibilities for our courttransparency, system, a juvenilesdaunting and task pretrial during justice. these continuing difficult economic times. Additionally, the Report includes a summary of the judicial officers and employees who ensure accessThe toReport justice contains and maintain two volumes: operations an Administrativefor our unified Summary court system, and a brief overview andof the a Statisticalsix divisions Summary. that comprise The Administrative the Administrative Summary Office includes of a message from Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and the 2016 the Illinois Courts. A secondReport volume, to the StatisticalIllinois General Summary, Assembly, reports as wellcomprehensive as an overview data of concerning court case loads atthe the state Supreme, and local Appellate, funding and required Circuit for court the operationlevels. of our court system. The Administrative Summary also provides information on The Administrative Office gratefullythe judicial acknowledges officers and employees,the Clerks ofwho the maintain Supreme, operations Appellate, for our Michael J. Tardy 1 and CircuitDirector Courts for their continuedcourt system. support A second, cooperation volume, andthe commitmentStatistical Summary, to provide includes the case statistical data publishedstatistical herein. dataI also on wish the courtto thank case the loads Administrative at the Supreme, Office Appellate, staff whose efforts were instrumentaland Circuit in preparing court levels, this asReport well as. Thecase importanceclearance rates. of p roviding Illinois' citizens with information to form an understanding and fundamental trust of our The Administrative Office gratefully acknowledges the Clerks of the Supreme,Appellate, and Circuit Courtscourt systemfor their cannot continued be overstatedsupport, commitment, and it is anda key cooperation component in compilingto achieving and providing continued the expandedaccountability data statisticsand transparency. published in thisI also Report. wish I alsoto express wish to thankmy strong the staff appreciation of the Administrative for the Officeefforts forand their dedication assistance of thein the honorable preparation men of and this women Report. who On behalfcomprise of the the Supreme Illinois judiciary,Court, I wish toas expresswell as mythe appreciationnon-judicial forand the court efforts personnel and dedication who make of theit their honorable daily goal men toand deliver women fair who, makeimpartial, up the efficient Illinois andJudiciary, affordable as well justice as the for non-judicial all in Illinois. employees and court personnel who strive to advance fair, efficient and affordable justice to all in Illinois. I hope that you will find this report a valuable tool in understanding the work of our courts. I hope that this Report serves as a valuable tool in understanding the work and function of our courtI invite system. you to I visitinvite our you website to visit atthe www.state.il.us/court Illinois Supreme Court’s for current website information at www.illinoiscourts.gov concerning forthe theIllinois most courtcurrent system information and to concerninglearn more theabout Illinois the judicialcourt system branch and of thegovernment judicial branch. The of government.website is continually The website enhanced is frequently and updated updated in orderin order to provide to remain a current an essential source of source information of toinformation the citizens and we education serve. for the citizens we serve. Sincerely, Michael J. Tardy, Director Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts Letter of Transmittal 2016 Annual Report • SUPREME COURT OF ILLINOIS • Administrative Summary A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF JUSTICE LLOYD A. KARMEIER n behalf of my colleagues on Circuit Courts in order to promote a the Illinois Supreme Court, I better understanding of the judicial am honored to present the branch and its role as the third branch O2016 Annual Report of the of government. The second volume of Illinois Courts, outlining the initiatives this Report, the Statistical Summary, 2 undertaken during the past year. It is provides data on the numbers and also my honor to inform the citizens of types of cases filed and disposed of Illinois of the Court’s on-going efforts in the Supreme, Appellate, and Circuit to promote efficiency, fairness, and Courts during 2016. judicial transparency, and to make the resources of the judicial branch During 2016, the Court continued its more readily available to all who need active involvement in efforts to enhance them. The Illinois Supreme Court, the judicial branch’s relationship assisted by the dedicated staff of our with the other branches of state Administrative Office and the judges government and with the public it and staff members serving our unified serves. The Court for the second time court system, works daily to uphold invited Governor Rauner and the entire individual rights and liberties, to Illinois legislature