The Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission), in partnership with the Second Judicial Circuit and Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Inc., has announced a new two-year pilot program aimed at increasing the use of remote court appearances across 12 southern Illinois counties.
The Second Judicial Circuit includes Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, and White counties—many of which border Indiana and Kentucky. The pilot will allow Land of Lincoln attorneys—including pro bono, Judicare, and staff attorneys—to appear remotely before local judges in a variety of civil matters.
By gathering data from these remote proceedings, the ATJ Commission hopes to better understand how virtual appearances can reduce barriers to justice faced by rural and low-income residents.
“We are pleased that the judges of the Second Circuit are demonstrating their commitment to access to justice for all by allowing remote appearances,” said Diane M. Goffinet, managing attorney for Land of Lincoln Legal Aid. “This will save time and resources, enabling us to help even more people with legal issues.”
Second Circuit Chief Judge Melissa A. Morgan emphasized the impact on underserved communities: “This pilot promises to bring essential legal services to more individuals navigating the legal process alone—a critical need in our largely rural region. By allowing remote appearances, attorneys can reach across our expansive circuit, saving time and travel costs and providing vital support to unrepresented litigants.”
A similar pilot in the First Judicial Circuit, which ran from June 2021 to July 2023, resulted in Land of Lincoln lawyers appearing remotely for 467 proceedings, saving over 600 hours of travel time and nearly 18,500 driving miles—an estimated cost savings of more than $11,600.
Created by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2012, the ATJ Commission’s mission is to improve access to the courts for self-represented litigants, those with limited English proficiency, and people with disabilities—while supporting judges and court staff in making justice more accessible to all.
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