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
Brook, Carol 12/14/2024 12/14/2018 The Illinois Supreme Court Member Cook
Bruno, Evan S. 01/14/2027 05/14/2021 Illinois Supreme Court Member, Illinois Bar Association
Sanders, Michelle 06/01/2025 06/01/2019 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