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Illinois Judges Association 

Pro Bono Spotlight - August 2024

This August, the Illinois Judges’ Association Pro Bono Committee is spotlighting a judge who has supported the accessibility of pro bono services to self-represented litigants in the 23rd Judicial Circuit, the Honorable John McAdams.  

Following his graduation from law school, Judge McAdams was engaged in private practice from 1995 through 2011.  While in private practice, he volunteered for pro bono appointments from Prairie State Legal Services and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).  He spent time providing counsel to clients at Mutual Ground and represented some of these clients in various court matters.  He also served as a part-time Public Defender in Kendall County prior to the establishment of the Public Defender’s Office in Yorkville. 

In 2011, Judge McAdams was appointed as an Associate Judge in what was then the 16th Judicial Circuit.  In 2022, he was appointed to the position of Circuit Judge in the 23rd Judicial Circuit by the Illinois Supreme Court and he is running to retain that seat in the upcoming November election.

Currently, Judge McAdams serves as co-chair of the 23rd Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee.  Since being relocated to his current position in Kendall County in 2015, Judge McAdams has overseen the significant expansion of pro bono services available to self-represented litigants in his quickly-growing county.  When he was initially appointed, the county was only providing “Lawyer in the Lobby” services once or twice a month.  Recently, more lawyers than ever have provided their assistance to the program and it now being offered every Friday.

In conjunction with PILI and NIU Law School, Judge McAdams has attended events where law students and lawyers meet to discuss and provide answers to questions submitted online.  These events give the students the opportunity to network and gain real-life experience that will be invaluable during their careers. 

This fall, Judge McAdams’ Pro Bono Committee will be putting on an expungement clinic in September and there are plans in the works for an additional pro bono clinic in October with more specific details to follow in the upcoming months. 

The IJA thanks Judge McAdams for helping to ensure that the residents of the 23rd Judicial Circuit have adequate access to pro bono services and to justice!