In an updated press release on Monday, the Illinois Supreme Court announced it was updating bill M.R. 25307 to increase access to the court system for people with disabilities.
“The Illinois Supreme Court is committed to access to justice for all users of the court system,” said Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis in the release. “We appreciate the efforts of our Access to Justice Commission, members of the disability community and members of the legal aid community who worked on these improvements.”
The update came with a corrected link to the Policy on Access for People with Disabilities, the statement said.
Bill updates include “(requiring) all Illinois courts to include updated Court Disability Coordinator (CDC) contact information on notice of accommodation signs and request forms, which will ensure anyone in any court will know who to reach out for disability access questions and concerns.”
The courts hope this will make for smoother, more consistent experiences for users with disabilities.
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Furthermore, the updated policy articulates the “requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the corresponding Federal Regulations, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and case law clarifying the responsibilities of the courts and the rights of people with disabilities who access court activities.”
The Illinois Supreme Court also updated the definition of “disability,” and the press release noted it also changed various parts of language usage in the bill.
“The amended Policy proposed by the Disability Access Committee works to eliminate barriers and foster an accessible court system that promotes access to justice for court users with disabilities across Illinois,” said Judge Jorge Ortiz, chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice.
This policy is effective starting Jan. 1, 2024, with all courts reporting compliance no later than Aug. 1, 2024.
“Ensuring disability access within our courts is not just a legal obligation, but a commitment to access to justice,” Ortiz said.
