The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the formation of a Committee on Equality, charged with promoting equality and fairness in all aspects of the administration of justice in Illinois Courts.

The Committee on Equality will consist of 15 judges and attorneys appointed by the Supreme Court. The membership of the Committee will reflect the diversity of the State of Illinois itself, based on age, race, gender, and background, as well as including members from urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state.

“The Supreme Court is committed to providing equal justice under the law to all who find themselves involved with the court system,” Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman said. “We are dedicated to the proposition that all litigants, witnesses, jurors, and members of the public should appreciate that our courts are free from bias and prejudice and that cases are decided purely on the basis of the law and the particular facts of each case.”

In 2013, at the Future of the Courts Conference, a number of ideas and suggestions were generated during a discussion of the need to address public perceptions of fairness and equality in the actions of the judicial branch. The Court then asked the Executive Committee of its Judicial Conference to consider the various ideas and to recommend specific actions. The creation of the new Committee on Equality is one step in that process.

“The Committee on Equality has been given an important and challenging mission – to understand public perceptions of the judicial process and to propose innovative ways to make the judicial branch more understandable and responsive to the public,” Chief Justice Garman said.

The Supreme Court’s charge to the Committee on Equality emphasizes the importance of promoting equality and fairness at all levels of the judicial system, while earning a high level of trust and public confidence in the judicial process.

The Court specifically asked the Committee to report on the presence, severity and effects of any lingering bias on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, cultural or socioeconomic status, or any other trait. The Committee is also asked to make concrete recommendations to eliminate such biases if they are found.

In its initial year, the Committee is asked to focus on identifying ways for individuals to find affordable legal representation, to gather information from other organizations that are concerned with inequality or bias in the courts, and to use that information to propose improvements in judicial training programs and court operations.

Chief Judge Joseph G. McGraw of the 17th Judicial Circuit will chair the Committee. In addition to serving as chair of the Conference of Chief Judges, Chief Judge McGraw is a regular instructor of the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor's Trial Advocacy Program, an active member of the Supreme Court Special Committees on Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) and Judicial Ethics and a former faculty member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Capital Litigation.

"I am honored to be selected by the Court to be part of this timely and very important committee that will identify any inequalities or biases that might exist in Illinois courts" Chief Judge McGraw said. "I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the other members on the committee and in a collaborative way, tackle any issues of inequality and bias in the court system."

Other committee members are:

Beverly Ann Allen, managing attorney, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, East St. Louis. Following her service in the Naval Reserve as a Judge Advocate General, Ms. Allen worked at the Naval Legal Service Office in Norfolk, Virginia for two years before being appointed to the Defense Department, Naval Air Station Oceana.

Joseph W. Balesteri, partner, Power Rogers & Smith PC, Chicago. Prior to joining Power Rogers & Smith in 2000, Mr. Balesteri worked as a defense lawyer with Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. He was selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers in 2010 and was elected president of the Society of Trial Lawyers in 2014.

The Hon. Walter D. Braud, Chief Judge, 14th Judicial Circuit, Rock Island. A former teacher in Chicago, Chief Judge Braud was appointed to the bench by the Supreme Court in 2001. He was twice retained by voters to a six-year term, most recently in 2014, and was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chief Judge in 2014.

The Hon. Andrea M. Buford, Circuit Judge, Cook County Circuit Court, Chicago. Prior to her selection as an associate judge in 2013, Judge Buford was a solo practitioner. She was a certified arbitrator, a commissioner with the Illinois Court of Claims and a hearing officer for the Illinois State Board of Education. Judge Buford is a past president of the Cook County Bar Association.
The Hon. David W. Butler, Associate Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Bloomington. Judge Butler was appointed as an associate judge in 2005 and was reappointed to another four-year term in 2015. Prior to joining the bench, he was in private practice in Bloomington and also handled cases for the McLean County Public Defender's Office.

The Hon. Jerry Crisel, Associate Judge, Second Judicial Circuit, Mt. Vernon. Prior to his selection as an associate judge in 2013, Judge Crisel was engaged in solo practice in Albion. He also served as public defender for White and Edwards counties, and served as Edwards County State's Attorney for seven years.

Patricia J. Foltz, retired lawyer. A summa cum laude graduate of DePaul University College of Law, Ms. Foltz most recently worked as a partner at Anderson Rasor & Partners LLP in Chicago, where she counseled clients on a variety of regulatory and patient care issues. She previously served as Associate General Counsel at Michael Reese Hospital Medical Center.

The Hon. Chrystel L. Gavlin, Associate Judge, 12th Judicial Circuit, Joliet. Judge Gavlin began her legal career as a prosecutor, first in DuPage County and then in Will County. During her time at the Will County State's Attorney's Office, she served as supervisor of the Domestic Violence Unit. Immediately prior to joining the bench in 2012, she worked as a solo practitioner.
Erika Natali Louise Harold, attorney, Meyer Capel, Champaign. Ms. Harold represents clients in a variety of complex commercial litigation matters, including civil RICO, class action, fraud and breach of contract disputes. Ms. Harold is a Harvard Law School graduate and a nationally recognized advocate of bullying prevention efforts.

The Hon. Michael B. Hyman, Appellate Justice, First Judicial District, Chicago. Appointed as a circuit judge in 2006, Justice Hyman was subsequently assigned to the Appellate Court in 2012. Prior to joining the bench, Justice Hyman was a principal at Much Shelist PC. He previously served as chairperson of the Committee on Strategic Planning for the Illinois Judicial Conference.

The Hon. Judith C. Rice, Circuit Judge, Cook County Circuit Court, Chicago. Prior to her election to the bench in 2014, Judge Rice was vice president and director of Government Affairs at BMO Harris Bank. She also previously served as the Treasurer for the City of Chicago and assistant corporation counsel for the City of Chicago's Department of Law.

The Hon. Kristal R. Rivers, Circuit Judge, Cook County Circuit Court, Chicago. Judge Rivers was appointed in 2014 to serve on the bench. Judge Rivers began her legal career as a prosecutor with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office. She subsequently went into private practice before joining the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

The Hon. Esteban F. Sanchez, Associate Judge, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Springfield. Before his appointment to the bench in 2006, Judge Sanchez was an assistant U.S. attorney in Springfield. He also previously worked in private practice and as a Sangamon County assistant state's attorney. Judge Sanchez was most recently reappointed to another four-year term in 2015.
The Hon. Robert B. Spence, Appellate Justice, Second Judicial District, Geneva. Appellate Justice Spence began his legal career in the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. He worked for the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office and the Illinois Attorney General's Office before becoming a judge in 2001. He served as chief judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit in 2011 and joined the Appellate Court in 2012.

Timothy W. Kelly, chair of the Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission, will serve as a status member of the Committee. Committee members serve as volunteers and have been appointed to varying terms. The appointments take effect immediately.