Illinois Judicial Conference Unveils New Three-year Strategic Agenda

The Illinois Judicial Conference has unveiled its 2026-2028 Strategic Agenda for the Illinois Judicial Branch.

The new Strategic Agenda outlines how the Judicial Branch will evolve and adapt to make the courts work better for the people they serve.

Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., emphasized that the Strategic Agenda focuses on removing barriers that prevent litigants from fully

participating in the legal system.

"These barriers are familiar-confusing procedures, complicated forms, and technological demands," Chief Justice Neville said. "The Illinois Supreme Court is continuing its modernization efforts, which includes improving remote-hearing practices, strengthening our digital infrastructure, and expanding support for litigants without lawyers, so the legal system is easier to understand, more accessible, and worthy of the public's trust."

The Strategic Agenda sets out five goals to shape the work of the Judicial Branch:

• Safeguarding Fairness, Removing Barriers and Empowering the Self-Represented.
• Resolving Disputes Fairly, Delivering Timely Justice, and Managing Courts Effectively
• Achieving Excellence through Fairness, Professionalism, and Accountability
• Strengthening Public Trust by Making the Work of the Courts Visible and Understandable
• Sustaining Courts Through Fair Funding and Smart Stewardship

These goals are grounded in the Judicial Branch's mission statement: "To serve the people of Illinois and safeguard the rule of law by delivering justice that is fair, impartial, and accessible to all; upholding the state and federal Constitutions; and earning public trust by treating every person with dignity and respect."

The Judicial Branch is also guided by a shared vision for the role of the courts in our democracy: "An Illinois Judicial Branch that sustains our democracy by exemplifying excellence, equity, impartiality, and accountability."