March 31, 2026
Each year, the CBF advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. is an opportunity for our legal community to use our unique experience and expertise to help improve access to justice at the federal level. Last week, leaders from the CBF again joined colleagues from the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the American Bar Association to advocate for funding and policies that make our justice system more fair and accessible and protect the Rule of Law.
Our Illinois advocacy team also stressed the critical importance of funding for the federal courts and judicial security, expressing gratitude to the Illinois Congressional delegation for their commitment to strengthening our federal judiciary with full funding for FY2026 in a challenging budget environment. The team urged continued investment in cybersecurity, IT modernization, and more, to ensure that the judiciary can meet its evolving needs and fulfill its Constitutional mission.
Another advocacy priority this year was the Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act, which will provide critical monitoring and response to the increasing number of serious threats against judges, court staff, and their families. With more coordination with the federal judiciary, these protections will promote better security across all levels of the judiciary.
This year’s trip to Washington was also a bittersweet time to thank outgoing members of the Illinois congressional delegation. The CBF and our partners at the CBA, ISBA, and ABA were honored to recognize Senator Dick Durbin for his longstanding leadership and commitment to access to justice. The CBF is also grateful to outgoing Representatives Danny Davis, “Chuy” Garcia, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Jan Schakowsky for their leadership and support on these issues throughout their tenures in Congress.
No CBF advocacy trip is complete without a stop at the hot dog stand outside of the Supreme Court and a trip to the Dubliner. Our Illinois group was especially grateful to Chicago’s own Judge Robert Dow, current Chief of Staff to Chief Justice Roberts, for hosting an inspiring tour of the Supreme Court. And as a fitting close to this year’s visit, the cherry blossoms were at their peak bloom on our final day.
You can learn more about these issues and the broader CBF advocacy agenda on the CBF website or by contacting Roya Samarghandi, CBF Chief Advocacy & Innovation Officer, at rsamarghandi@chicagobarfoundation.org.