The antidote to late-trial self-doubting may be a high-low settlement agreement with the other side before the jury reaches a verdict, suggests Cook County Circuit Court Judge John H. Ehrlich in his February 2025 Illinois Bar Journal article, “The Highs & Lows of High-Low Agreements.” Yes, Judge Ehrlich notes, a high-low settlement presents unique risks because the parties typically negotiate its terms under short time constraints and a great deal of stress.
Practice News
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A leading appellate attorney reviews the two Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Thursday, February 6.
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Justice David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Patrick G. King as a Resident Circuit Judge in Madison County in the Third Judicial Circuit, Subcircuit Two.
Mr. King was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stephen A. Stobbs on December 31, 2024. The appointment of Mr. King is effective February 21, 2025, and will conclude on December 7, 2026, following the November 2026 general election.
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Now that the Illinois Supreme Court says lawyers should not be discouraged from using artificial intelligence (AI), attorneys may have questions about how to use, and how not to use, this rapidly advancing technology in their daily workflow. The February Illinois Bar Journal’s cover story, “It’s Time To Start Using It,” presents practical tips and recommends resources for becoming familiar with AI and how to leverage popular applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot.
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Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Kimberly Przekota as a judge in the Eleventh Subcircuit of the Cook County Circuit Court.
“Ms. Przekota received rave reviews from the judicial screening committee during the application process,” Chief Justice Theis said. “Her extensive courtroom experience has prepared her well for this new role.”
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When filing a joint federal income tax return, both husband and wife are jointly and severally liable for the tax and any additions to the tax, interest, or penalties that arise from the joint return, even if the parties later divorce or one of them dies. But, as Richard Hirschtritt notes in his January Illinois Bar Journal article, “Tax Appeal,” many individuals are unaware of their spouse’s income or the family’s finances. This provides the knowledgeable spouse with an opportunity to expend funds without the knowledge of his or her spouse.
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Leading appellate attorneys review the Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Friday, January 24.
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The Illinois Supreme Court announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on January 24, 2025. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.
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Justice Mary K. O’Brien and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Sonni Choi Williams as a Circuit Judge in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Third Subcircuit.
5 comments (Most recent February 20, 2025) -
In their January 2025 Illinois Bar Journal article, “Powerful or Powerless?,” Thomas Osran and Robert Held focus on amendments to the Illinois Power of Attorney Act that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Osran and Held note the amendments will help when third parties refuse to honor validly drafted and executed POAs. But, unhelpfully (and perhaps fatally), they add, the law creates no new teeth to enforce unreasonable refusals to honor valid POAs and lists 14 new ways for banks and others to legally refuse to honor otherwise valid POAs.