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Illinois Public Defender Association

The Illinois Public Defender Association was incorporated in 1969 as a non-profit 501 [c][6] educational organization for Public Defenders. There were 3 incorporators: Gerald W. Getty, then the Cook County Public Defender, Marshall J. Hartman, retired head of the Capital Litigation Division of the Office of the State Appellate Defender, and Morton Zwick, retired justice of the First District Appellate Court.

Currently, there are 32 officers and directors representing the geographical and demographic differences in the State. In addition, the Association employs no staff and thus relies heavily on members of the Office of the State Appellate Defender and other volunteers to coordinate its programs and services.

The goals of education, interchange of ideas, and camaraderie are reflected by semi-annual seminars serving Public Defenders and court-appointed counsel in all 102 counties. In recent years, efforts have begun to establish caseload standards and to fairly fund public defender services.

The Illinois Public Defender Association has cooperated with the Illinois State Bar Association and the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender in reviewing and suggesting amendments to criminal and juvenile bills in the legislature. It has also worked with the State Bar Association to develop model rules and statutes to standardize Public Defender appointment procedures.

In cooperation with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender and the Office of the State Appellate Defender, the Association sponsors an annual Public Defender Trial Advocacy School, where hands-on experience makes both attendees and instructors better advocates, as well as regional Public Defender Advocacy Programs and two annual state-wide training seminars.

Board of Directors

  • Stephen Baker
    Retired Legislative Liaison
    Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender

  • William Bertram
    Livingston County Special Public Defender
    219 W. Washington
    Pontiac, IL 61764

  • Betsy Bier
    Assistant Public Defender
    Adams County Public Defender’s Office
    529 Hampshire, Suite 522
    Quincy, IL 62301

  • Kerry Bryson
    Deputy State Appellate Defender
    Office of the State Appellate Defender
    707 E. Etna Rd
    Ottawa, IL  61350

  • Amy Campanelli, 1st Vice President
    Former Cook County Public Defender

  • Robert P. Carlson
    Assistant Public Defender
    DeKalb County Public Defenders’ Office
    133 W. State Street
    Sycamore, IL 60178

  • Victoria Chuffo
    Public Defender
    Kendall County Public Defender's Office
    807 W. John Street
    Yorkville, IL  60560

  • Anne Clough
    Jersey County Public Defender
    PO Box 71
    Carrollton, IL 62016

  • Nicholas Feda
    Assistant Public Defender
    Kane County Public Defender’s Office
    37W777 Route 38 Suite 200
    St. Charles, IL 60175

  • Angela Fillenwarth
    Assistant Grundy County Public Defender
    211 E. Jefferson Street, Suite A
    Morris, IL 60450

  • Robert Gifford
    Senior Assistant Public Defender
    DuPage County Public Defender’s Office
    503 N. County Farm Road
    Wheaton, IL 60187

  • Elder Granger
    Granger, Cohen & Donahue
    One Court Place Suite 100
    Rockford, IL 61101

  • Keith Grant, President
    Chief, Special Defense & Professional Development
    Office of the Lake County Public Defender
    15 S. County Street
    Waukegan, IL  60085

  • Levi Harris
    Assistant Appellate Defender
    Office of the State Appellate Defender
    909 Water Tower Circle
    Mt. Vernon, IL  62864

  • Catherine Hart
    Deputy Defender
    Office of the State Appellate Defender
    400 W. Monroe, Suite 303
    Springfield, IL 62704

  • Baron Heintz
    Attorney at Law
    4343 16th Street #101
    Moline, IL 61265

  • Jeffrey Howard, Past President
    Retired Deputy of County Operations
    Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender

  • Jacqueline Leder
    Assistant Public Defender
    Kane County Public Defender’s Office
    37W777 Route 38, Suite 200
    St. Charles, IL 60175

  • Ronald L. Lewis
    Public Defender
    McLean County Public Defender’s Office
    104 W. Front Street, Suite 603
    Bloomington, IL  61701

  • Erin S. Mattson
    Public Defender
    Montgomery County Public Defender's Office
    120 N. Main Street
    Hillsboro, IL  62049

  • Darren E. Miller
    Assistant Appellate Defender
    Office of the State Appellate Defender
    203 N. LaSalle, 24th Floor
    Chicago, IL  60601

  • Tiffany Senger
    Public Defender
    Christian County Public Defender's Office
    101 S. Main Street
    Taylorville, IL 62568

  • William Starnes
    Fayette County Public Defender
    221 S. 7th Street
    Vandalia, IL 62471

  • Paige Strawn
    Law Office of Paige Clark Strawn, P.C.
    1003 Broadway Street
    PO Box 1643
    Mt. Vernon, IL   62864

  • Laura A. Weiler, Secretary
    Director of Training
    Office of the State Appellate Defender
    203 N. LaSalle, 24th Floor
    Chicago, IL  60601

  • Susan Wilham
    Assistant Appellate Defender
    Office of the State Appellate Defender
    400 W. Monroe, Suite 303
    Springfield, IL 62704

  • Brenda Willett, 2nd Vice President
    First Assistant Public Defender
    Kane County Public Defender’s Office
    37W777 Route 38, Suite 200
    St. Charles, IL  60175

  • Ryan Wilson, Treasurer
    Assistant Appellate Defender
    Office of the State Appellate Defender
    400 W. Monroe, Suite 303
    Springfield, IL  62704

  • Kristina Yi
    Chief, Homicide Task Force
    Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
    2650 S. California, 8th Floor
    Chicago, IL 60608

  • Jeffrey York
    Public Defender
    DuPage County Public Defender's Office
    503 N. County Farm Rd.
    Wheaton, IL  60187

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