SPRINGFIELD -- Marcia Meis will take over as the director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts August 1 after current director Michael Tardy announced his retirement May 23.
Meis is presently the deputy director of the office.
Tardy served in the state’s judicial branch for 40 years and was named the acting director of the Administrative Office in 2011 until his appointment as director the following year.
The office conducts the election process for the appointment of associate judges and provides a wide range of support and educational services to the Court’s committees and the Judicial Conference.
Tardy said he has been proud to serve in his role and that he will miss assisting the state’s court system.
"I have loved my time with the AOIC and it has been a great honor to serve the Court," Tardy said. "It has been an absolute privilege to do what I love – to aid in 'doing justice' on a daily basis."
Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier said Tardy has been an “invaluable asset” to the court and will be missed.
“Mike has helped steer the third branch of Illinois government through some of its most difficult challenges,” said Karmeier. “He has helped place Illinois at the forefront of initiatives to improve access to justice, and his contributions have been critical to our implementation of new measures to ensure that Illinois judges receive the best possible training and education,”
Tardy, who began his career as a clerk with the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Social Service Department, is credited for overseeing the implementation of the state’s electronic filing system as well as improvements in its pretrial release practices.
Meis, who joined the Administrative Office in 1999, started her public service career as an Illinois appellate law clerk and was named the deputy director in 2014 after serving as its chief legal counsel.
“The court has every confidence that she will bring to the office of director the same level of skill and dedication that Mike has, and we look forward to working with her toward the continued improvement of Illinois’ system of justice,” Karmeir said.