|
| | HR0790 | | LRB097 18891 AJO 64129 r |
|
|
| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
|
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The role of the judiciary in Illinois is vitally |
| 3 | | important to individuals, businesses, units of local |
| 4 | | government, and other entities; and
|
| 5 | | WHEREAS, The confidence of our residents in our judiciary |
| 6 | | is an important part of the fabric of State government; and
|
| 7 | | WHEREAS, Any question about the ability, experience, or |
| 8 | | integrity of the associate judges who perform central functions |
| 9 | | of the judiciary detracts from the esteem in which the Illinois |
| 10 | | judiciary is held; and
|
| 11 | | WHEREAS, A systematic program to improve the performance of |
| 12 | | associate judges would improve the quality of justice and boost |
| 13 | | the confidence of our citizens in State government; therefore, |
| 14 | | be it
|
| 15 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
| 16 | | NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
| 17 | | the Illinois Supreme Court is urged to consider a system for |
| 18 | | the evaluation and removal of associate judges that could be |
| 19 | | administered by the Administrative Office of the Illinois |
| 20 | | Courts; and be it further
|
|
| | HR0790 | - 2 - | LRB097 18891 AJO 64129 r |
|
|
| 1 | | RESOLVED, That an evaluation system could include |
| 2 | | assessment and ranking mechanisms for an appraisal of associate |
| 3 | | judges by the circuit judges of the judicial circuit within |
| 4 | | which the associate judges serve; and be it further
|
| 5 | | RESOLVED, That an evaluation program with this purpose |
| 6 | | could include rankings on factors such as: (1) knowledge of the |
| 7 | | substantive law and the applicable rules and procedures; (2) |
| 8 | | ability to treat participants with fairness, dignity, and |
| 9 | | respect; (3) avoidance of conflicts and improprieties; (4) |
| 10 | | quality of written and oral communications; (5) participation |
| 11 | | in professional development activities; and (6) efficient |
| 12 | | management of the courtroom and calendar; and be it further
|
| 13 | | RESOLVED, That an evaluation system might also include the |
| 14 | | participation of bar associations active within the circuit to |
| 15 | | provide comments from lawyers who practice before associate |
| 16 | | judges; and be it further
|
| 17 | | RESOLVED, That the Illinois Supreme Court might consider an |
| 18 | | evaluation system that provides that any associate judge who is |
| 19 | | rated in the lowest 10% of associate judges in the circuit in |
| 20 | | which he or she serves for any 2 years within any 3-year period |
| 21 | | be removed from office; and be it further
|
| 22 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this Resolution be |