Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Carla Bender, Fourth District Appellate Court Clerk.
In this role, Carla oversees the court’s administrative operations, including case processing, records management, scheduling, and case assignments, and serves as a liaison between the justices, attorneys, and the public. She manages the full lifecycle of civil and criminal appeals.
Earlier in her career, Carla was a paralegal, probation officer and later a field coordinator in the Probation Division of the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts, before being elected Logan County Circuit Clerk.
In 2009, she was appointed Clerk of the Appellate Court.
What qualities are most important for professionalism in your role?
A career in the Illinois judicial branch as an appointed officer of the court requires the highest standard of integrity. It demands impartiality and unwavering ethical standards, as well as collegiality, patience, and strong communication and collaboration skills.
What is the biggest challenge facing courthouse personnel?
Courthouse personnel face unique safety risks. Most litigants we encounter, particularly in serious criminal cases, bring a multitude of challenges to their contacts with the court system.
Maintaining a secure workplace is crucial to enabling my staff to focus on their job and not be concerned about their safety. It is becoming increasingly common to receive unruly and/or outright threatening communication from individuals by mail, phone, and in person.
How do you encourage civility and respect in fast-paced court environments?
Working with the public is particularly challenging when the public we serve are litigants in appeals. These cases significantly impact lives.
Many of the people with whom we communicate are under stress and are facing confusing circumstances which may have been, or still are, traumatic for them.
Cultivating a culture of healthy communication built on respect for the public is essential in the office of the Clerk of the Court. We do this by practicing open, clear communication and expressing empathy combined with professionalism, which enables us to effectively assist those who rely on our services.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, reading, music, exercise, and interior design. Currently, I am remodeling a house with a business partner — my first attempt at “flipping.” 🙂
Staying up to date on issues impacting the legal profession is vital to your success. Subscribe here to get the Commission’s weekly news delivered to your inbox.
Thriving with AI: Why the Future of Law Is Still Deeply Human
Professionalism Spotlight: Katherine Keefe, McHenry County Circuit Clerk
Our mission is to promote a culture of civility and inclusion, in which Illinois lawyers and judges embody the ideals of the legal profession in service to the administration of justice in our democratic society.
The Commission was established in 2005 under the authority of the Illinois Supreme Court and is governed by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 799.