ATJ Commission seeks volunteers for Community Trust and Disability Access Committees – March 2026

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) is charged with promoting accessible, responsive, fair, inclusive, safe, unbiased, and welcoming Illinois state courts. To help carry out this charge, the ATJ Commission is seeking applications for new volunteer members from Illinois for the ATJ Commission's Community Trust and Disability Access Committees. If approved by the Illinois Supreme Court, volunteers are expected to serve three-year, renewable terms and are expected to prepare for, attend, and contribute to monthly Committee meetings.

Meet the Committees

Established in 2017, the Community Trust Committee advises the ATJ Commission on policies and programs that build public trust in Illinois courts and that promote strong relationships with communities across Illinois. The Committee collaborates with established community stakeholders to collect feedback from the public. Through listening sessions, community panels, and user testing initiatives, the Committee elevates community perspectives and integrates them into court improvement, including form design, policy development, and initiatives affecting communities that experience barriers when accessing justice.

The ATJ Commission formed the Disability Access Committee in 2022 to develop solutions that address barriers people with disabilities experience. The Committee collaborates with and is comprised of disability advocates and stakeholders, including people with disabilities, to identify and address inaccessibility in the legal system. Previous initiatives of the Disability Access Committee include the 2024 revision to the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for People with Disabilities, developing bench cards related to disability access, creating training content for Court Disability Coordinators, administering the ATJ Commission's Disability Access Grant, and more.

To apply for an open volunteer position, please complete an application for the Community Trust Committee or the Disability Access Committee.

All applications are due April 24, 2026.

If you have any accessibility needs or accommodations that you will need to apply for a position on the Community Trust Committee, to request a Word version of the application, or for questions regarding the application, please email August Hieber at [email protected].