State Appellate Defender Commission
Board and Commission Details
Contact Name
Claire Musial
Contact Title
Director of Support Services, Office of the State Appellate Defender
Contact Phone
(312) 814-5472
Contact E-Mail
claire.musial@osad.state.il.us
Function
The Commission advises state appellate defender on operations of office; approves or modifies operational budget and sets number of employees; recommends removal of state appellate defender if there are reasonable grounds.
Term
Limit of one full 6 year term.
Senate Confirmation
No
Party Affiliation
N/A
Qualifications
See composition
Compensation
Expenses
Composition
9 members : Chairperson appointed by Governor; 1 appointed by Supreme Court; 1 appointed by each of 5 Appellate Courts; 1 appointed by Supreme Court from panel of 3 persons nominated by IL State Bar Assoc.; 1 appointed by Governor from panel of 3 persons nominated by IL Public Defender Assoc.
Chair
Appointed by Governor
Authority
725 ILCS 105/4
Member Names
| Name | Member Expiration | Member Since | Affiliation | Appointed By | Position | Title | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finkle, Lester W. | 01/31/2031 | 01/31/2025 | The Illinois Supreme Court | Member | Cook | ||
| Bruno, Evan S. | 01/14/2027 | 05/14/2021 | Illinois Supreme Court | Member, Illinois Bar Association | |||
| Lowe, Kevin | 06/01/2031 | 06/01/2025 | 4th District Appellate Court | Member | |||
| Wharton, Hon. Milton S. | 07/03/2027 | 07/29/2021 | 5th District Appellate Court | Member | |||
| Brusatte, Hon. James L. | 05/31/2024 | 06/06/2018 | 3rd District Appellate Court | Member | |||
| Mitchell, Sharone R. Jr | 05/01/2027 | 11/18/2022 | Governor | Member, Public Defenders Association nominee | |||
| Epstein, James R. | 09/10/2026 | 11/10/2022 | Governor | Chair | Cook | ||
| York, Jeff | 08/01/2026 | 08/01/2020 | 2nd District Appellate Court | Member | |||
| Hoffman, Hon. Thomas E. | 07/11/2022 | 08/11/2016 | 1st District Appellate Court | Member |