Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee
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About the Committee:
The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee is a group, comprised of lawyers and judges, that strives to enhance equal access to justice by encouraging and promoting pro bono work in the Third Judicial Circuit.
About the Circuit:
The Third Judicial Circuit is in the Fifth Appellate District and includes Bond and Madison Counties. The Honorable Christopher P. Threlkeld is the Chief Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit.
Membership:
Chairs:
Honorable Maureen Schuette, Third Judicial Circuit
Pro Bono Coordinator:
Angela Wille, Madison County Law Library & Legal Self-Help Center
Members:
Phil Baldwin, Scroggins Law Office
Judge Chris Bauer, Circuit Court of Bond County
Adam Bragee, Walton Telken Bragee, LLC.
Rebecca Buettner, Madison County State's Attorney Office
Trent Cameron, Madison County Public Defender
Tanja Cook, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid
Judge Angela Donohoo, Third Judicial Circuit
Brittany Elliott, Embrich & Elliott Law
Amy Garrett, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC
Missy Greathouse, Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc.
Judge John Hackett, Third Judicial Circuit
Amanda G. Highlander, Mitchell Highlander, LLC
Chelsea Hubbard, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid
Christopher B. Hunter, Hunter Law Office, P.C.
Barbara Joiner, The Joiner Law Office
Judge Patrick King, Third Judicial Circuit
Deanna Litzenburg, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid
Lisa Logterman, Office of the Illinois Attorney General
Judge Amy Maher, Third Judicial Circuit
Judge Martin J. Mengarelli, Third Judicial Circuit
Tim Moore, Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Ashley Shula, Growe Eisen Karlen Eilerts
Kristen Strieker, Strieker Law Firm
Sandra Tatoian, Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C.
Judge Justin Zimmerman, Third Judicial Circuit
Committee Activities:
The Committee was launched in 2011 under the leadership of the Honorable Barbara Crowder who served as chair until her retirement in 2018. The Committee opened a Legal Advice Conference Center in the Madison County courthouse on October 27, 2011 to provide brief advice and information to self-represented litigants. The Committee has also hosted a wills clinic, providing estate planning services for low-income veterans and seniors. The Committee offers several pro bono trainings, including brown bag CLE lunches and full day trainings. This Committee also organizes an annual luncheon to mark Pro Bono Week in October and give out pro bono awards to local attorneys.
Recognition:
PILI and the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee are proud to recognize local attorneys who have gone above and beyond to enhance equal access to justice through pro bono work. In 2023, the Committee also presented the inaugural Judge Barbara Crowder Pro Bono Champion Award. This award is for a courthouse staff person or member of the judiciary whose support is vital in promoting access to justice.
Past recipients of the Pro Bono Service Award are:
2024 Pro Bono Service Award: Deanna Litzenburg
2024 Judge Crowder Pro Bono Champion Award: Stephanie McSparin
2023 Pro Bono Service Award: MillerKing LLC
2023 Judge Crowder Pro Bono Champion Award: Briana Pierson
2022 Pro Bono Service Award: Christopher Hunter
2021 Pro Bono Service Award: Janel Freeman
2020 Pro Bono Service Award: Deborah Crouse Cobb
2019 Pro Bono Service Award: Dave Fahrenkamp
2019 Rising Pro Bono Star Award: Rebecca Hausman
2018 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Leonard F. Berg
2018 Pro Bono Community Award: Ted N. Gianaris
2017 Pro Bono Firm of the Year Award: HeplerBroom LLC
2017 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Terrence O’Leary
2017 Rising Pro Bono Star Award: Zachary Pashea
2016 Pro Bono Firm of the Year Award: Simmons Hanly Conroy
2016 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Leslie Wood
2015 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Jennifer Shaw
2015 Rising Pro Bono Star Award: Trent Cameron
2014 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Tanja M. Cook
2013 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Judge Ralph Mendelsohn (Ret.)
2012 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Elizabeth "Nikki" Carrion
2011 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Judge Lola Maddox (Ret.)
2010 Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year Award: Michael Meehan & Deborah Crouse Cobb
2009 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Gail Donnelly Bader
2008 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award: Erin Reilly
If you have any questions about this Committee or its work, contact PILI Attorney Program Manager, Andrea Schrader by email or at 217-606-7644.