(a) Meeting the challenge of deciding child custody and allocation of parental responsibilities cases fairly and expeditiously requires experience or training in a broad range of matters including, but not limited to: (1) child development, child psychology and family dynamics; (2) domestic violence issues; (3) alternative dispute resolution strategies; (4) child sexual abuse issues; (5) financial issues in these matters; (6) addiction and treatment issues; (7) statutory time limitations; (8) cultural and diversity issues; and (9) implicit bias.
Rule 908.Judicial Training on Child Custody and Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Issues
Article IX. Child Custody or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Proceedings · Part A. Rules of General Application to Child Custody or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Proceedings · Last amended 2023 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 908 asks chief judges to weigh a judge’s experience and training in child development, domestic violence, and related topics before assigning that judge to custody cases, and encourages ongoing judicial education on those subjects.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 908
(b) Judges should have experience or training in the matters described in paragraph (a) of this rule before hearing these cases. Before a judge is assigned to hear child custody cases or allocation of parental responsibilities cases, the Chief Judge of the judicial circuit should consider the judge’s judicial and legal experience, any prior training the judge has completed and any training that may be available to the judge before he or she will begin hearing these cases.
(c) Judges who, by specific assignment or otherwise, may be called upon to hear child custody or allocation of parental responsibilities cases should participate in judicial education opportunities available on these topics, such as attending those sessions or portions of the Education Conference, presented bi-annually at the direction of the Supreme Court, which address the topics described in paragraph (a) of this rule. Judges may also elect to participate in any other Judicial Conference Judicial Education Seminars addressing these topics, participate in other judicial education programs approved for the award of continuing judicial education credit by the Supreme Court, complete individual training through the Internet, computer training programs, video presentations, or other relevant programs. The Chief Judges of the judicial circuits should make reasonable efforts to ensure that judges have the opportunity to attend programs approved for the award of continuing judicial education credit by the Supreme Court which address the topics and issues described in paragraph (a) of this rule.
Plain-English Summary
Deciding custody well takes more than knowing the law. Rule 908 lists the range of subjects that help a judge handle these cases well and keep them moving — child development and family dynamics, domestic violence, alternative dispute resolution, child sexual abuse, financial issues, addiction, statutory deadlines, cultural and diversity issues, and implicit bias.
Before assigning a judge to hear custody cases, the chief judge of the circuit should factor in that judge’s experience, any training already completed, and any training available before the assignment begins. The rule doesn’t set a hard prerequisite — it asks chief judges to consider these factors, not to certify judges before they can sit on custody cases.
Once assigned, judges are encouraged to keep learning: attending sessions of the biannual judicial Education Conference, other approved judicial education programs, or self-paced training. Chief judges are expected to make reasonable efforts to give judges access to that continuing education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a judge need special training before hearing custody cases?
Rule 908 asks the chief judge to consider a judge’s experience and training before assigning them to custody cases, but it doesn’t make training a strict legal prerequisite.
What subjects should a custody judge understand?
The rule lists child development, domestic violence, dispute resolution, child sexual abuse, financial issues, addiction, statutory deadlines, cultural and diversity issues, and implicit bias.
How do judges get this training?
Through sessions of the biannual judicial Education Conference, other approved continuing judicial education programs, or self-paced options like online or video training.
Can I ask for a different judge if mine hasn’t had this training?
Rule 908 doesn’t create a right for litigants to request reassignment on that basis — it directs chief judges to weigh training when making assignments.
Is this training mandatory for judges already hearing custody cases?
The rule encourages ongoing participation in relevant judicial education, and asks chief judges to help make that training available, without imposing a fixed mandate.
Committee Comments
(Revised March 8, 2016)
Special Supreme Court Committee on Child Custody Issues Proposed Rule 908 recognizes the complexity of child custody and allocation of parental responsibilities cases and the broad range of experience and training that would be helpful to judges hearing these cases. Paragraph (b) requires that chief judges consider a judge’s experience and training before the judge is assigned to hear such cases. This provision does not establish a mandatory prerequisite to such an assignment. Paragraph (c) requires that trial judges who will hear child custody and allocation of parental responsibilities cases should participate in Judicial Education opportunities on these type of matters. The proposed rule encourages personal attendance at seminars, but emphasizes that other forms of training may be used.
Amendment History
Adopted February 10, 2006, effective July 1, 2006; amended May 19, 2006, effective July 1, 2006; amended Mar. 8, 2016, eff. immediately; amended Feb. 27, 2023, eff. immediately.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: judicial training child custody caseshow are custody judges assigned Illinoisjudge experience domestic violence custody casesfamily court judge education requirements