The Illinois Supreme Court is inviting applications as of May 27 from individuals interested in serving as appointed members of the Illinois State Public Defender Commission. The Commission will oversee and support the Office of the State Public Defender, with a focus on ensuring quality legal representation for those in need across Illinois.
Public Act 104-0300, known as the Funded Advocacy and Independent Representation or “FAIR” Act, was signed into law in August 2025. The FAIR Act creates a new statewide oversight structure for indigent defense services following a 2021 report by the Sixth Amendment Center that found Illinois’ public defense system did not meet constitutional obligations due to high caseloads, inadequate funding, and lack of oversight.
Under the FAIR Act, an independent State Public Defender Commission will be established on July 1, 2026. The Office of State Public Defender becomes effective January 1, 2027. The eleven-member commission will include three appointees from the Illinois Supreme Court, four from the Governor, and four from the Legislature.
The Office and Commission are tasked with setting standards for attorney workload and training without judicial or political influence; appointing Chief Public Defenders; assessing counties’ resource needs; distributing supplemental state funds to county public defense offices; and collecting and releasing data related to public defense operations.
Applicants must have significant experience defending indigent clients in criminal or juvenile proceedings. They should also demonstrate commitment to public service, a strong understanding of legal systems, and willingness to contribute to improvements in public defense throughout Illinois.
Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume, letter of interest, and supporting materials to Kahalah Clay at kclay@ilosps.gov. Additional information about the FAIR Act and commission roles is available upon request.
