The Office of the State Appellate Defender is a state agency created by the State Appellate Defender Act (725 Illinois Compiled Statutes, Act 105). The principal function of the Office of the State Appellate Defender is to represent indigent persons on appeal in criminal cases when appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court, the Appellate Court or the Circuit Court. To provide for this legal representation, the State Appellate Defender has district offices in each of the five appellate court districts of Illinois (Chicago, Elgin, Ottawa, Springfield and Mt. Vernon). The Office of the State Appellate Defender is nationally recognized for excellence in providing indigent criminal services. In 1986, OSAD was honored by the American Bar Association and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association as the outstanding Public Defender office in the nation. It is the policy of the Office of the State Appellate Defender that services shall not be denied due to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, or disability.