An Illinois Supreme Court committee created nearly 10 years ago to address equality in the courts has been renamed and given a new focus.

The Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Equality, created in 2015, has been renamed the Committee on Equal Justice. The rebranded committee will continue to promote fairness and trust in the Illinois judicial system, but its goals have been revised to sharpen its focus on “the ideals of fairness, equity, and diversity in the entire Illinois legal system;” and to “identify and work to dismantle inequalities, disparities, and biases in the Illinois legal system; foster and develop a high level of public confidence; and extend respect and dignity to all.”

“Our focus always has been on fairness in the law,” says First District Illinois Appellate Court Justice Michael B. Hyman, chair of the committee. “Equality speaks to giving everyone the same opportunities, a related but broader issue. So, the name change better aligns our mission with our purpose.”

“The reality is that achieving ‘equal justice’ in our state is more of an aspirational goal; we live in a broken world that cannot be neatly fixed despite our best intentions,” says committee member and Champaign County Associate Circuit Court Judge Matthew Lee. “But we must try, even if we ultimately fall short, because if just one more person who walks into one of our courthouses is treated with the dignity and respect to which all are entitled, it will be well worth the effort.”

Appointed members comprise 20 judges and attorneys throughout Illinois, plus three ex officio members. Members sit on six subcommittees, which address sexual orientation and gender inclusivity, public outreach, disparate impact of court rules, diversity of judges and staff in the court system, education, and jury diversity.

Committee priorities

Justice Hyman says that the committee’s current projects include preparing cultural competence materials for court personnel, improving diversity in the judiciary outside of Cook County, addressing issues with Batson and the process counties use for jury service, promoting LGBTQ+ inclusivity, providing unconscious bias education to bench and bar, and educating the public on procedural fairness and judicial impartiality.

“For me, the committee’s work must ensure that equal justice is more than just an aspiration—it must be a reality within our legal system,” Justice Hyman says. “This requires us to confront and correct shortcomings while persistently advancing fairness and transparency to assure public trust and confidence in the administration of justice. The committee is fortunate to have dedicated members and staff who are deeply committed to these ideals and to effecting meaningful reforms.”

“The distinction between the old and new committee names may be subtle,” says Judge Lee, who is cochair of the education subcommittee, “but I believe the purpose of this change is to signal our recognition that achieving true equality and fairness for all who interact with our legal system is an ongoing process—there is much work to be done. This rebranding is meant to convey the committee’s dedication to doing that difficult work and prioritizing it as of the utmost importance for the communities we serve.”

More information about the Committee on Equal Justice and its members.

Pete Sherman is managing editor of the Illinois Bar Journal.
psherman@isba.org