Christopher Bonjean’s contributions to public trust and confidence in Illinois courts

August 2026

By Marcia M. Meis, Director, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts

Earlier this month, the Illinois Judicial Branch lost a key leader when Chris Bonjean signed off as Chief Communications Officer to move abroad with his family. Bonjean began his service as Chief Communications Officer for the Supreme Court in 2016. It cannot be overstated how much our world has changed over this 10-year period.

AI was not nearly as prevalent as it is today, and COVID was still years away. The Illinois Supreme Court had just announced mandatory statewide e-filing for civil cases with a rollout scheduled over the next few years. Illinois still had cash bail. These are just a few of the many changes that have taken place since Chris came on board in 2016. His calm and steady work ensured that court communications were accurate, timely and responsive to court users, media and the public at large.

As a former reporter and communications team leader at the ISBA, Chris knows that effective communication must accompany big changes in the courts - without it, other entities will step in and fill any void of information. Research tells us that judicial efforts to engage in clear and factual communication can result in increased public trust and positive public perception without undermining the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system. Courts should no longer content themselves with being the quiet branch of government; to the contrary, we need to tell our stories.

In that vein, Chris started two newsletters during this time - the daily Media Monitor and the monthly Illinois Courts Connect, which you are reading right now. These regular communications inform the judiciary, staff, legal community and public of what is going on in the Judicial Branch.

Chris and his staff have also widely used social media to give the courts exposure on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X. And the Court continues to announce judicial appointments and other news via more traditional press releases to keep the media informed. Under Chris's watch, the Judicial Branch Annual Report has been redesigned and streamlined to deliver key court information in a way that is easy to digest and visually pleasing. Much of the data from the Annual Report is now available through online dashboards that are updated more frequently than in the annual publication.

The Court is currently engaged in a search for its next Chief Communications Officer to oversee statewide communications and public information efforts. The successful candidate will continue to promote public understanding of the Illinois court system through strategic engagement with media, community organizations, and the public. The position serves as the primary spokesperson and media liaison for the Illinois Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch, responding to media inquiries and coordinating public messaging on statewide judicial initiatives, programs, and events.

In this unique role, the Chief Communications Officer is appointed by, and works in service to, the Chief Justice and the entire Supreme Court while also serving as a member of the AOIC leadership team and reporting to the AOIC Administrative Director.

While we are sad to see Chris go, the Supreme Court has a great opportunity to find the next person to continue sharing the great work of the courts with the public, legal community and press.