The Illinois Supreme Court will present an Access to Justice Listening Conference on Wednesday June 5 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In association with the SIU Carbondale School of Law, the Commission on Access to Justice Listening Conference for the Fifth Appellate District will be held from 1:30-4 p.m. in Founder’s Hall, room 2207.
In attendance will be Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and members of the Court’s Commission on Access to Justice.
The Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice developed the idea for the Commission, Chief Justice Kilbride said at a recent appearance at Northern Illinois University. The Commission’s goal is to create ways to improve access to the justice system throughout the state, especially for the poor.
“This presentation should be of interest to all individuals, whether students, faculty, the legal community or interested members of the general community,” said P. Ann Dirks-Linhorst, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice studies in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences. “Justice is such an important concept that we are thrilled to participate in this discussion and certainly enthusiastic to collaborate with the SIU School of Law.”
The Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission was formed in 2012 in an effort to remove barriers and increase the ease of interacting with courts by those who can’t afford lawyers. It is comprised of 11 individuals, seven of whom are appointed by the Supreme Court. Jeffrey Coleman, a partner at the Chicago firm of Jenner & Block, chairs the commission. He has been a leader in delivering legal services to the under-represented.
The SIUE Listening Conference is one of a series being held across the state with each focusing on a particular appellate district. Previous conferences were held at NIU and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After SIUE, the next conference is slated for Thursday, June 13 at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.
Interested individuals may RSVP to atjcommission@court.state.il.us.