FAIR Act

Justices from the state's highest court say geographic disparities have affected access to public defenders, particularly in rural counties. A new law aimed at promoting equity across the state has two years to be fully implemented.

The new law brings reform to the state's public defense system for the first time in decades. Public defenders play an outsized role in juvenile and child welfare courts.

The FAIR Act seeks to establish a state public defenders office to ease equity gaps for under-resourced counties, cap caseloads and provide oversight and advocacy. Illinois is one of five states without such an office.