Illinois Judges Association

Pro Bono Spotlight - July 2023

This month, the Illinois Judges Association Pro Bono Committee is highlighting a judge who has spent her entire legal career promoting the public interest, the Honorable Stacy L. Campbell.

While attending law school at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Judge Campbell began working at the Madison County Public Defender’s Office and then at the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office.  In her third year of law school, she participated in the Elder Law Clinic where she became aware of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation (now Land of Lincoln Legal Aid). 

Upon graduation from law school, she began her career at Land of Lincoln in 2006 where she worked until her appointment to the bench in 2019.  At Land of Lincoln, Judge Campbell served in the roles of staff attorney, senior attorney, senior supervising attorney, and managing attorney at the East St. Louis Office.  She also served as the task force chair of the pro bono committee which managed the pro bono programs throughout the entire Land of Lincoln territory encompassing 65 counties.  She had the opportunity to work with pro bono attorneys to help in all practice areas provided by Land of Lincoln.  Through the pro bono program, she was able to help oversee the sealing and expungement of thousands of criminal histories from people shackled to the mistakes of their past.  She also participated in the Metro East Homeless Summit screening people for legal issues and assisting them when able.

In 2019, Judge Campbell was appointed as an Associate Judge in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit where she has presided primarily over divorces, adoptions, child support, and other family and juvenile issues.  She has presented at numerous CLEs, including her yearly appearance on the ethics panel for the Land of Lincoln seminar for the purpose of engaging attorneys to take a pro bono case through Land of Lincoln.  She continues serving on the Public Interest Law Initiative’s Twentieth Circuit Pro Bono Committee.  She has presented at various schools in St. Clair County on programming for children including:  Seven Reasons to Leave the Party and the Worries of the World Wide Web.

Judge Campbell is a member of the ISBA, the St. Clair County Bar Association, and the East St. Louis Bar Association.  She was recently nominated by the St. Clair County Bar Association to serve on the Board of Directors.  She has served on the finance committee of the Illinois Judges Association.

Judge Campbell encourages everyone to be active in pro bono.  “Pro bono work is deeply rewarding.  As a skilled professional, you get to help someone with a problem they would otherwise have to tackle without any formal legal training.  The administration of justice is the foundation of the law.  Pro bono epitomizes equal justice for all.  In the process of accepting pro bono work, you may learn about a new area of law, gain contacts with new lawyers and judges, and work through novel issues and problems to help someone.”

The Pro Bono Committee and Judge Campbell want to thank everyone who strives to make access to justice a reality.