The City of Chicago Independent Police Review Authority has a job posting for a licensed attorney. All applications must be made at the City of Chicago job website. The posting is due to come down January 4, 2016.
Practice News
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December 29, 2015 |
Practice News
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December 29, 2015 |
Practice News
Justice Thomas L. Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Moline attorney Joseph F. Fackel as a Circuit Judge in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Fackel was appointed by the Court to fill the vacancy created by Circuit Judge F. Michael Meersman, who retired at close of business on November 30, 2015. His appointment takes effect January 4, 2016 and will terminate on December 5, 2016, when the position is filled by the 2016 General Election.
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December 23, 2015 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am a partner in an eight attorney firm in downtown Chicago. Last week you participated in a discussion at an Illinois State Bar Association meeting where you indicated that four out of 10 of your law firm clients have had an employee embezzlement at some time or another. I would appreciate any thoughts you may have on how we can protect ourselves.
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December 22, 2015 |
Practice News
Cook County Associate Judge William Edward Gomolinski ruled Monday that the switch from 12-person juries to six-person juries in civil trials is unconstitutional. Gomolinski wrote that language in the 1970 state constitution means the status quo from that period must remain barring a constitutional amendment.
Former Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill last December cutting the 12-person jury in half. The bill took effect in June.
The case is James Kakos, et. al. v. Jesse Butler, et al., 15 L 6691.
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December 21, 2015 |
Practice News
The First District Appellate Court has an opening for Assistant Legal Research Director. More information is available below and at http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Employment/Appellate/2015/Legal_Research_Asst_Dir_1st.asp
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December 17, 2015 |
Practice News
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil cases Bowman v. Ottney and Board of Education of the City of Chicago v. Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board and the criminal cases People v. Hughes, People v. Burns and In re Michael D.
Note: The authors of the summaries and the staff of Illinois Lawyer Now wish to honor the memory of Hon. Jean Prendergast Rooney, who passed away on December 8, 2015, and was a valuable original member of this team before becoming Circuit Judge. She is greatly missed.
CIVIL
Bowman v. Ottney
By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan
When a judge has made a ruling on a substantial issue in a case, followed by a voluntary dismissal without prejudice pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-1009, a party may not move for substitution of judge when the subsequently refiled case is assigned to the judge who presided in the first case. In Bowman v. Ottney, the judge ruled on substantial issues, such as the scope of discovery. Thereafter, plaintiff voluntarily dismissed her complaint and timely refiled her action. The refiled case was assigned to the original judge, and plaintiff immediately moved for substitution of judge pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-1001. Defendant objected, asserting that plaintiff had “tested the waters” during the first case. The circuit court denied the substitution of judge but certified the issue under SCR 308.
1 comment (Most recent December 18, 2015) -
December 17, 2015 |
Practice News
The U.S. Department of Justice has an attorney vacancy in the criminal division of the Rock Island Office. Applications are being accepted through Dec. 31, 2015. Find out more at http://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/job/assistant-united-states-attorney-criminal-11
There is also an opening for a summer law student volunteer in the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the Chicago Immigration Court, 525 W. Van Buren. Applications must be received by Jan. 19. Find out more at http://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/job/law-student-volunteer-summer-116
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December 17, 2015 |
Practice News
By Jim Covington, Director of Legislative Affairs
It has been quiet in Springfield regarding the revenue side of the budget equation. But, at some point, a discussion about a service tax may reappear as part of an effort to address Illinois’ budget needs and solve the related deficit.
Gov. Rauner’s 2014 campaign advocated for a service tax that included a tax on legal services. This part of his plan accounted for one-quarter of the $577 million that was estimated to be generated by this tax. This is to address the estimated $8.5 billion in unpaid bills at the end of the calendar year.
So, the idea of taxing our clients isn’t going away, and we wanted to remind you of this issue. We’re linking to a recent joint study by the Taxpayers Federation of Illinois and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and an article in State Tax Notes. The joint study recommends against imposing a service tax on professional services (page 9) but does recommend an expansion of Illinois’ sales tax base. The article, entitled “Taxing Services is No Panacea” by Brian Hamer, former Illinois Director of Revenue, is a concise four-page discussion of the service tax issue.
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December 16, 2015 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am a senior partner in a 14 attorney intellectual property firm in Memphis. We are planning on having a firm retreat in January 2016. We have never had a retreat before. Our plan is to have a one-day retreat facilitated by a consultant with specific focus on competitive strategy and marketing. We have just decided this week that we would like to do this and are just beginning the planning process. I would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
A. Here are my thoughts:
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December 15, 2015 |
Practice News
Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for an At-Large Circuit Court vacancy in the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
The vacancy is created by the resignation of Judge William O. Mays, Jr., effective January 15, 2016. Judge Mays has been an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit since 2006.
Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to the final Court approval. Applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.
Notice of the vacancy has been posted in the courthouses throughout the Circuit. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court's website at www.illinoiscourts.gov and following the instructions in the "Latest News" scroller announcing the Eighth Judicial Circuit vacancy.