United States District Court - Northern District of Illinois

General Rules

Rules 3.80 to 3.99 Procedures For The Appointment Of Attorneys In Pro Bono Civil Actions

Rule 3.81 Creation Of Pro Bono Panel

A. Composition of the Panel

At any given time the Panel shall include the names of all prospective appointees selected in accordance with B below and the names of any members of the Trial Bar who have volunteered for such appointments.

B. Selection of Panel Members from the Pool

Pursuant to Rules 3.303.49, each member of the Trial Bar of this Court has the responsibility to serve as an appointed attorney in pro se matters. All members of the Trial Bar are, therefore, automatically members of the Civil Pro Bono Pool (the "Pool''). From time to time, the clerk shall select at random from the Pool a Panel of prospective appointees. Except as otherwise provided by these Rules, the clerk shall select from the Pool members of the Trial Bar who have not been included on an earlier Panel. The names of any member of the Trial Bar (a) whose principal place of business is outside of this District, or (b) who is employed fulltime as an attorney for an agency of the United States, a state, a county, or any subdivision thereof, or (c) who is employed fulltime as an attorney by a notforprofit legal aid organization shall, when selected for a Panel, be removed from it and returned to the Pool. However, such action shall preclude such attorney from selection only during the term of the Panel for which he or she was selected.

C. Notification of Panel Members of Their Selection

The clerk shall notify each member of the Panel of his or her selection and obtain from him or her the following information:

(1) the attorney's prior civil trial experience, including a general indication of the number of trials and areas of trial experience;

(2) the attorney's prior appellate experience, including a general indication of the number of appeals and any special areas of expertise;

(3) the attorney's ability to consult and advise in languages other than English;

(4) the attorney's preferences for appointment among the following types of matters:

(a) Social Security appeals;

(b) employment discrimination actions;

(c) civil rights actions filed by persons in custody;

(d) other civil rights actions; and

(e) appeals to the Court of Appeals;

(5) whether the attorney would be willing to accept an appointment to serve in one or both of the Court's Divisions; and

(6) whether the attorney would be willing to accept an appointment to serve in one or more of the other Districts of the Seventh Circuit.

Such information as is supplied by a Panel member may be amended at any time by letter.