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 IJA BENEFITS of MEMBERSHIP

All benefits are available to members, regardless if the judge is “sitting” or retired

Regarding the State Government, IJA:

  • Advocates with the state legislature on matters of employee and retiree benefits
  • Reports on significant legislative and litigation developments affecting judges and the courts
  • Where ethical and appropriate, represents judges’ interests in litigation, as in Jorgensen v. Blagojevich  (2004), that overturned the termination of judges’ annual pay adjustments     
  • Works with JRS and CMS to resolve benefit issues for current and retired judges

Regarding the Media and Providing Information, IJA:

  • Disseminates benefit info on its own & with JRS and CMS by mailings, email, and conferences
  • Distributes the quarterly GAVEL, other newsletters, and emails with updates and alerts
  • Maintains the IJA website at www.ija.org, with a public access area and a members’ only access
  • Serves as the voice to the media by interviews, press releases, and letters to the editor
  • Offers individual members assistance with distributing local press releases
  • Provides assistance to individual judges regarding unjust public criticism 

 Various Benefits offered by IJA:

  • Health Insurance Consultant (includes Medicare Advantage) at no cost to members and survivors
  • Annual Convention held jointly with ISBA each December, with seminars, luncheon
  • Reduced membership rates for the American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Assistance with court house security and members’ on-line privacy and personal security
  • IJA travel opportunities for members and their guests
  • Just for fun: Social events such as IJA Ravinia Night and in conjunction with our charitable arm, IJF activities including Blackhawks and Bulls games and IJF’s Comedy Night

 Benefits Specifically for Retirees offered by IJA:

  • Offers dues at the reduced rate of $100 per year
  • Makes available to any member’s survivor IJA’s Health Insurance Consultant at no cost
  • Offers retired IJA volunteers to assist retirees and survivors with how to get answers on matters of health insurance, Medicare or Medicare Advantage, and prescriptions
  • Offers MCLE seminars from time-to-time specifically designed for our retired members
  • Offers other seminars and conferences from time-to-time on relevant retiree topics

 Ethics Assistance for all Judges regardless of Membership

  • Participates with ISBA and CBA in the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee answering any state judge’s ethics questions, and publishing written IJEC Ethics Opinions at www.ija.org

 

IJA OPPORTUNITIES to SERVE

All opportunities are available to members, regardless if the judge is “sitting” or retired

Serving Society, our Communities, and our Children

  • Volunteer for our programs that get judges into the schools – Some offer training
    • 7 Reasons to Leave the Party: Consequences of drinking and driving and high risk behavior
    • Your Future, Your Choice: Decision making for teens related to criminal accountability  
    • Courtroom in the Classroom: Civics on judicial process and US Constitution
    • Page It Forward: Encouraging literacy and reading and getting books to school children in need
    • One Book, One Judge, One Goal: Read Abe Lincoln’s Hat to a classroom, to promote reading 
    • Volunteer for State-Wide and Local Activities in which IJA and Members Play a Role
    • IL Judicial Speakers Bureau: By IL Supreme Court and IJA to respond to requests for speakers
    • IL State Bar Association Programs:
      • As the ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational, with IJA members serving as judges
      • As the IJA endorsed 2013 ISBA “Lawyers Feeding Illinois” program to feed hungry families
      • Local Efforts:
        • Race Judicata: Annual 5K Run/Walk for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation

 Serving Fellow Judges

  • Volunteer for our IJA Committees – Contact the IJA Office to volunteer at any time
    • Budget and Finance: Budget creation and a long-term financial planning
    • Educational Programming & Annual Meeting: Assistance with the annual convention & luncheon
    • The Gavel: Publishes the official quarterly publication of the IJA
    • Government Affairs: Monitors legislative and executive matters of significance to the judiciary
    • In-School Programs: Facilitates our judges-in-the school programs
    • Judicial Selection and Retention: Advises IJA on elections and retention and related issues
    • Law and Literature: Literature, etc. among judges, recommends curriculum education programs
    • Public Affairs and Media: Monitors unjust public criticism in media and if appropriate, organizes responses 
    • Membership: Maintains and promotes membership 
    • Pension and Benefits: Monitors government employee and retiree benefits action
    • Court and Family Security: Assistance with court, personal, and on-line security
    • Retired Judges: Reports on legislation, litigation; assist on benefits’ issues, seminars, and more
    • Travel and Member Benefits: Plans annual IJA trip and identifies member-benefit programs
    • Wellness: Supports a Judge's needs in the areas of physical, emotional, and psychological well being

 Serving Illinois Judges and Lawyers with Impairment Problems

  • Lawyer’s Assistance Program (LAP): IJA encourages sitting and retired judges to serve as trained volunteers for this peer intervention program for alcohol or drug dependency https://illinoislap.org