The Illinois Courts Commission (Commission) is seeking applicants for the position of Executive Director and General Counsel. The selected candidate will serve as the head of the agency and will supervise its day-to-day operations.

The Commission is the state’s judicial disciplinary body under Article VI, Section 15 of the Illinois Constitution. Containing members drawn from the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, and the Circuit Court, as well as public members who are not judges, the Commission decides complaints brought by the Judicial Inquiry Board against judges alleged to have committed misconduct or to be physically or mentally unable to perform their duties.

“It is important that the public knows that the judiciary values ethics and takes it very seriously,” said Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis, Chair of the Courts Commission. “Public confidence in our courts requires a robust judicial disciplinary system, overseen by an effective leader. Today’s announcement by the Commission demonstrates its commitment to hiring such a person.” 

Administrative duties for the Commission previously fell to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. However, an appropriation by the Illinois Legislature has made it possible for the Commission to hire staff, procure office space, and become the “independent Courts Commission” intended by the Constitution.  

The title of “Executive Director and General Counsel” reflects the range of responsibilities that the newly created position will encompass. The role’s administrative responsibilities will include administering the Commission’s docket of cases involving complaints filed by the Judicial Inquiry Board, ensuring that the Commission’s procedures and decisions are readily available to judges and the public, and responding to inquiries from judges, lawyers, the public, and the media. As General Counsel, the individual will prepare memoranda for the members of the Commission, help draft opinions, and serve as the Commission’s lawyer. 

The Executive Director and General Counsel will have an office at the Commission’s headquarters in Chicago. A full job description and application information are available on the Commission website. A completed application form with cover letter, curriculum vitae, writing sample, and the names and contact information of three (3) professional references must be submitted via the Commission website by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2022.

For further information, the Commission may be contacted at info@IllinoisCourtsCommission.gov.