ISBA President-Elect Vincent F. Cornelius walks attorneys through how to prepare for court.
Practice News
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November 11, 2015 |
Practice News
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November 6, 2015 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the results of a court user survey that measured public perceptions and experiences with trial courts across the state. Overall, the results show that court users have a very positive view of the courts in Illinois.
"My colleagues and I on the Illinois Supreme Court are gratified to learn that so many of our fellow Illinoisans have a positive opinion of the justice system," Chief Justice Rita B. Garman said. "We want to thank those who assisted the court with conducting the study and, in particular, the individual court users who took the time to provide thoughtful answers to the survey questions."
"The survey provides us with valuable information we can use to improve not only public perception of our court system, but also its efficiency and effectiveness. We plan to conduct a thorough analysis of the survey results to determine what actions we can take to increase public confidence in our legal system even further. Then, with the assistance the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) and the Strategic Planning Committee, and with the involvement of judges and court administrators throughout the state, we will take action to implement changes that address the needs and concerns of the public we all serve."
The recommendation to conduct a survey designed to evaluate the perception and experience of court users came out of the Supreme Court's Future of the Courts Conference in 2013. The Strategic Planning Committee of the Illinois Judicial Conference, in coordination with the AOIC and under the Supreme Court's leadership, developed the survey.
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November 5, 2015 |
Practice News
In re M.A.
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender
When she was 13 years old, M.A. used a knife to cut her 14-year-old brother after a physical altercation between them. As a result, she was adjudicated delinquent of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, and domestic battery. On appeal, she challenged the registration provisions of the Violent Offender Act on various constitutional grounds.
Asserting an equal protection violation, M.A. argued that juvenile violent offenders were similarly situated to juvenile sex offenders. The Court rejected that assertion, citing to the legislative history of both the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) and the Violent Offender Act (VOA). -
November 4, 2015 |
Practice News
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Wednesday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil cases Price v. Philip Morris, Inc., The Henderson Square Condominium Association v. LAB Townhomes LLC and Folta v. Ferro Engineering.
Price v. Philip Morris, Inc.
By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan
Holding that 735 ILCS 5/2-1401 does not authorize a circuit court to vacate the judgment of a reviewing court, the supreme court vacated the judgments of both the circuit and appellate courts in this latest of many rounds following the entry of a judgment for compensatory and punitive damages in the amount of $10.1 billion following a bench trial in Madison County in March, 2003. Previously, that money judgment of the circuit court was reversed by the supreme court upon a direct review under SCR 302(b). That plurality opinion found that the Federal Trade Commission had specifically authorized the use of descriptors for light cigarettes, thereby effectively barring plaintiffs’ complaint by operation of Section 10b(1) of the Consumer Fraud Act. There, the supreme court remanded to the circuit court with instructions to dismiss the case, which was done.
2 comments (Most recent November 5, 2015) -
November 4, 2015 |
Practice News
Attorney Ralph Schumann provides an update on changes coming to Real Estate Law.
1 comment (Most recent November 5, 2015) -
November 4, 2015 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am a new administrator in a 17-attorney law firm in the greater Boston area. I am the firm's first administrator and after the first six months I am struggling. It is unclear whether I am living up to the expectations of the partners and I feel like I am lost. I would appreciate your thoughts.
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November 3, 2015 |
Practice News
Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court administered the attorney’s oath to 1,605 new attorneys on Thursday at five separate locations across the state.
The largest group —1,306—were admitted in the First Judicial District during two ceremonies at the Arie Crown Theater, 2301 Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago.
All of the candidates have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,000.
Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the 9:45 a.m. ceremony in the First District and Justice Mary Jane Theis presided over the 12:45 p.m. ceremony.
At the 9:45 a.m. ceremony, Will County Circuit Judge Richard C. Schoenstedt made the move for admission of the class. Cook County Circuit Judge Sharon M. Sullivan and Chicago attorney Stephen Stern seconded the motion. They all have children who took the attorney's oath during the ceremony.
Other guests of the morning ceremony included: Patricia Brown Holmes, president of the Chicago Bar Association; and Cook County Circuit Judge Jessica A. O'Brien, ISBA Board member and president of the Women's Bar Association.
2 comments (Most recent November 4, 2015) -
November 2, 2015 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that Gerald Vernon Cleary, III has been appointed as a Circuit Judge of Cook County, at large. This appointment is effective Nov. 5, 2015 and terminates on Dec. 5, 2016. It was created by the retirement of the Hon. Richard F. Walsh.
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October 28, 2015 |
Practice News
A podcast about a CLE program? Why not? Aurora lawyer and podcaster Sam Partida brought his recorder, his energetic style, and his in-the-trenches knowledge of criminal law to the ISBA’s DUI and Traffic Fall Seminar in Elgin earlier this month. The result is a great series of interviews that are an exciting and informative sampler of what you missed if you couldn’t be there – and what you can view online (for CLE credit!) as soon as it’s posted.
View Sam’s blog post about the Elgin program or use the player below to listen:
2 comments (Most recent October 30, 2015) -
October 28, 2015 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am the solo owner of a five-attorney estate planning firm in Los Angeles consisting of myself and four associates. I am approaching retirement and looking at my exit options. Since there are no heirs apparent in the firm, I am looking to sell the practice. However, the potential buyer that I have been speaking with is nervous and concerned about client defections, proper transition, etc. Also, I would like to continue to practice for a few years and don't want to run afoul of the rules of professional conduct. I would appreciate your thoughts.