CBA Record May-June 2022

and accessories we continue to see today that have transformed our lives. And no offense to the hard-working people who served as toll booth operators throughout the country, but they largely have given way to far better express pass systems where we just keep on driving and pay automatically. And so on. Is “innovation” just a coverup for bad execution or underinvestment in proven solutions? We should be wary of innovation being pitched as a solution when the real prob lem is poor execution of something that works quite well when done right. Similarly, when a product or service has proven its worth but is not supported with adequate investment, innovation can distract from the work necessary to secure that proper investment in the already proven solutions. Ensuring we take the time to under stand the problem we are trying to solve is a crucial first step in the innovation process. Looking at our profession and legal system through the innovation lens You may have heard the joke about Abe Lincoln the lawyer and his doctor friend talking at the end of the day circa 1850 when they are suddenly caught in a time

warp and find themselves in present day Illinois. The doctor walks over to a hospital he sees nearby and is quickly overwhelmed by all the technology and machines and has no idea how he could continue as a doctor because there have been so many advances. Lincoln on the other hand sees a courthouse nearby, finds it to be a very familiar place, and is trying a case in no time. That joke, which has many variations, underscores that there is no shortage of opportunity to modernize our profession and justice system. But it also shows that the core roles that lawyers play, counsel ing clients through difficult life circum stances and advocating for their rights to secure justice, are just as important today. As we move forward, we need to distin guish our toasters from our typewriters. Some examples: Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich: Holding jury trials and significant evi dentiary hearings in-person. Toll Booth Operator: Requiring rou tine status hearings or lower stakes legal proceedings be held in-person rather than utilizing remote access options.

and advocacy for someone facing a significant life issue or case in court. Typewriter: A system where a lawyer is often necessary for even low stakes legal matters or to simply navigate arcane procedural hurdles that were made for complex commercial or tort disputes. You get the point. There are many ele ments of our profession and court system that have rightly stood the test of time as integral parts of a justice system that lives up to our ideals. But there are many more that are just crying out for new and inno vative solutions to bring the profession and legal system into the 21st century. It is incumbent on us to know the dif ference between these two sides of the system and act accordingly. We need both innovative new solutions and proper investment in and execution of things we already know work well to create a fair and accessible justice system for all.

Bob Glaves i s the Executive Dir ector of The Chicago Bar Foundation.

Toaster: A lawyer providing counsel

Illinois Courts Commission Seeks First Executive Director Founded more than 50 years ago, the Illinois Courts Commission acts as the state’s judicial disciplinary body tasked with handling ethics complaints against judges. For the first time ever, the Commission is seeking an executive director to serve as the head of the agency and supervise day-to-day operations. Administrative duties for the Commission previously fell to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. In 2021, the Illinois legislature appropriated funds for the commission to hire staff, procure office space and build a website. The executive director will administer the Commission’s docket of cases involving complaints filed by the Judicial Inquiry Board, ensuring that the Commission’s procedures and decisions are readily available to judges and the public. They will also respond to inquiries from judges, lawyers, the public, and the media. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis is the chair of the Commission. “Having an effective leader oversee this Commission is a significant step in enhancing public trust and confidence in the judiciary,” said Justice Theis. The executive director will have an office at the Commission’s headquarters in Chicago. Applications were due in April and Justice Theis said they hope to have someone in place this summer. Find details on the Commission at www.Illinois CourtsCommission.gov.

CBA RECORD 13