The Illinois Public Defender Association was incorporated in 1969 as a non-profit 501 [c][6] educational organization for Public Defenders. There were 3 incorporators: Gerald W. Getty, then the Cook County Public Defender, Marshall J. Hartman, retired head of the Capital Litigation Division of the Office of the State Appellate Defender, and Morton Zwick, retired justice of the First District Appellate Court.

Currently, there are 32 officers and directors representing the geographical and demographic differences in the State. In addition, the Association employs no staff and thus relies heavily on members of the Office of the State Appellate Defender and other volunteers to coordinate its programs and services.

The goals of education, interchange of ideas, and camaraderie are reflected by semi-annual seminars serving Public Defenders and court-appointed counsel in all 102 counties. In recent years, efforts have begun to establish caseload standards and to fairly fund public defender services.

The Illinois Public Defender Association has cooperated with the Illinois State Bar Association and the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender in reviewing and suggesting amendments to criminal and juvenile bills in the legislature. It has also worked with the State Bar Association to develop model rules and statutes to standardize Public Defender appointment procedures.

In cooperation with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender and the Office of the State Appellate Defender, the Association sponsors an annual Public Defender Trial Advocacy School, where hands-on experience makes both attendees and instructors better advocates, as well as regional Public Defender Advocacy Programs and two annual state-wide training seminars.

• Stephen Baker
  Retired Legislative Liaison
  Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
• William Bertram
  Livingston County Special Public Defender
  219 W. Washington
  Pontiac, IL 61764
• Betsy Bier
  Assistant Public Defender
  Adams County Public Defender’s Office
  529 Hampshire, Suite 522
  Quincy, IL 62301
• Kerry Bryson
  Deputy State Appellate Defender
  Office of the State Appellate Defender
  707 E. Etna Rd
  Ottawa, IL 61350
• Amy Campanelli, 1st Vice President
  Former Cook County Public Defender
• Robert P. Carlson
  Assistant Public Defender
  DeKalb County Public Defenders’ Office
  133 W. State Street
  Sycamore, IL 60178
• Victoria Chuffo
  Public Defender
  Kendall County Public Defender's Office
  807 W. John Street
  Yorkville, IL 60560
• Anne Clough
  Jersey County Public Defender
  PO Box 71
  Carrollton, IL 62016
• Nicholas Feda
  Assistant Public Defender
  Kane County Public Defender’s Office
  37W777 Route 38 Suite 200
  St. Charles, IL 60175
• Angela Fillenwarth
  Assistant Grundy County Public Defender
  211 E. Jefferson Street, Suite A
  Morris, IL 60450
• Robert Gifford
  Senior Assistant Public Defender
  DuPage County Public Defender’s Office
  503 N. County Farm Road
  Wheaton, IL 60187
• Elder Granger
  Granger, Cohen & Donahue
  One Court Place Suite 100
  Rockford, IL 61101
• Keith Grant, President
  Chief, Special Defense & Professional Development
  Office of the Lake County Public Defender
  15 S. County Street
  Waukegan, IL 60085
• Levi Harris
  Assistant Appellate Defender
  Office of the State Appellate Defender
  909 Water Tower Circle
  Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
• Catherine Hart
  Deputy Defender
  Office of the State Appellate Defender
  400 W. Monroe, Suite 303
  Springfield, IL 62704
• Baron Heintz
  Attorney at Law
  4343 16th Street #101
  Moline, IL 61265
• Jeffrey Howard, Past President
  Retired Deputy of County Operations
  Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
• Jacqueline Leder
  Assistant Public Defender
  Kane County Public Defender’s Office
  37W777 Route 38, Suite 200
  St. Charles, IL 60175
• Ronald L. Lewis
  Public Defender
  McLean County Public Defender’s Office
  104 W. Front Street, Suite 603
  Bloomington, IL 61701
• Erin S. Mattson
  Public Defender
  Montgomery County Public Defender's Office
  120 N. Main Street
  Hillsboro, IL 62049
• Darren E. Miller
  Assistant Appellate Defender
  Office of the State Appellate Defender
  203 N. LaSalle, 24th Floor
  Chicago, IL 60601
• Editha Rosario-Moore
  Assistant Director of Training
  Office of the State Appellate Defender
  203 N. LaSalle, 24th Floor
  Chicago, IL 60601
• Tiffany Senger
  Public Defender
  Christian County Public Defender's Office
  101 S. Main Street
  Taylorville, IL 62568
• William Starnes
  Fayette County Public Defender
  221 S. 7th Street
  Vandalia, IL 62471
• Paige Strawn
  Law Office of Paige Clark Strawn, P.C.
  1003 Broadway Street
  PO Box 1643
  Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
• Laura A. Weiler, Secretary
  Director of Training
  Office of the State Appellate Defender
  203 N. LaSalle, 24th Floor
  Chicago, IL 60601
• Susan Wilham
  Assistant Appellate Defender
  Office of the State Appellate Defender
  400 W. Monroe, Suite 303
  Springfield, IL 62704
• Brenda Willett, 2nd Vice President
  First Assistant Public Defender
  Kane County Public Defender’s Office
  37W777 Route 38, Suite 200
  St. Charles, IL 60175
• Ryan Wilson, Treasurer
  Assistant Appellate Defender
  Office of the State Appellate Defender
  400 W. Monroe, Suite 303
  Springfield, IL 62704
• Kristina Yi
  Chief, Homicide Task Force
  Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
  2650 S. California, 8th Floor
  Chicago, IL 60608
• Jeffrey York
  Public Defender
  DuPage County Public Defender's Office
  503 N. County Farm Rd.
  Wheaton, IL 60187