The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the appointment of Associate Judge David L. Jeffrey as a Circuit Court Judge in the 15th Judicial Circuit. Judge Jeffrey was appointed to fill the Resident Circuit Court vacancy in Stephenson County created by the announced retirement of Judge Theresa L. Ursin effective August 31, 2014.
Practice News
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June 10, 2014 |
Practice News
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June 6, 2014 |
Practice News
The federal appeals courts based in Chicago and St. Louis are seeking an attorney to coordinate budgeting for private lawyers appointed under the Criminal Justice Act to represent indigent defendants.
The case-budgeting attorney will work with judges, defense counsel and court officials to recommend budgeting procedures and policies and to help draft forms used by CJA lawyers handling capital and other high-cost cases. The attorney also will develop case budgets and maintain a central database of the budgets and expenditures for CJA lawyers.
The attorney will be based in Chicago but will travel to locations within the 7th and 8th circuits. The 7th Circuit covers Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, while the 8th Circuit covers Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
The case-budgeting attorney will be appointed to a three-year term, which could be extended. The salary is $100,690 to $157,000, depending on the attorney’s experience and qualifications.
An application form is available on the 7th Circuit’s website at ca7.uscourts.gov and the 8th circuit’s website at ca8.uscourts.gov. The form is due by June 12.
Applications should be sent to the 7th Circuit’s executive, Collins T. Fitzpatrick, 219 S. Dearborn St., Room 2780, Chicago, IL 60604.
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June 5, 2014 |
Practice News
Q. Can I charge a client for services such as making copies?
A. IRPC 1.5 addresses fees and expenses. Comment [1] states that “lawyer may seek reimbursement for the cost of services performed in-house, such as copying, or for other expenses incurred in-house, such as telephone charges, either by charging a reasonable amount to which the client has agreed in advance or by charging an amount that reasonably reflects the cost incurred by the lawyer.” 1.5(b) also notes that fees should be communicated to the client before representation. See the full text of 1.5 for further explanation.
ISBA members can browse past ISBA Ethics Opinions, access our Ethics Hotline, and other resources on the ISBA Ethics Page.
2 comments (Most recent June 5, 2014) -
June 5, 2014 |
Practice News
ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Administrative review and attorney’s fees (Senate Bill 2829), Condominium Property Act (House Bill 4783), Presumptively void transfers (Senate Bill 1048), FOIA (House Bill 3796), The Residential Real Property Disclosure Act (Senate Bill 2597), Common Interest Community Association Act (Senate Bill 3057) and Service of process. (Senate Bill 3286). More information on each bill is available below the video.
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June 5, 2014 |
Practice News | Member Services
Beginning with public acts from the spring legislative session, Fastcase is updating its version of Illinois Compiled Statutes in real time. In other words, as soon as the governor signs a bill into law, Fastcase updates its version of the ILCS to reflect the new act. “That way you’re always looking at the most up-to-date version of statutes,” says Fastcase CEO Ed Walters.
As a Fastcase user, you’ll be seeing red – in a good way. When an ILCS provision is affected by a new act, Fastcase includes a notice in red font on the top of the page. They also underline the new language and set it off in red.
Fastcase is free to ISBA members. If you haven't already done so, click on the Fastcase icon on the upper right of the ISBA homepage and take it for a test drive.
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June 4, 2014 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am a solo practitioner in Central Illinois. As my staff seems to expand, I feel a need to become more formal. I have a question about nondisclosure agreements with staff? Also office procedures or rules? Also, in hiring, I am finding fewer candidates who have experience in a legal setting. The Illinois State Bar Association Law Practice Management Section may want to consider a half day program that is internet based to acquaint staff who have office experience but no legal experience with some of the basic issues including nomenclature, confidentiality, basic legal drafting, etc.
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June 3, 2014 |
Practice News
Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Sixth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Roger B. Webber as an associate judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Webber received his undergraduate degree in 1980 from Illinois State University in Normal, and his Juris Doctor in 1983 from DePaul University in Chicago.
Mr. Webber is currently affiliated with Beckett & Webber, PC in Urbana and Tuscola.
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June 2, 2014 |
Practice News
Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today entered General Administrative Order No. 2014-06 which permits persons present at court proceedings conducted in courtrooms of the Circuit Court of Cook County to take written notes while court is in session.
“I firmly believe that the integrity of our courts depends on increasing, not limiting, public access in the courtroom, whether that access is allowing the media to film proceedings or allowing people to simply write down what they see and hear,” said Chief Judge Evans. “Every time integrity is embraced, justice is enhanced.”
The use of laptop computers and other electronic devices in the courtrooms of the Circuit Court of Cook County is prohibited and may not be used to take notes unless otherwise expressly permitted by the judge presiding.
General Administrative Order No. 2014-06 is attached.
1 comment (Most recent June 13, 2014) -
May 29, 2014 |
Practice News
ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Condominium Property Act (House Bill 4783), UM/UIM arbitration (House Bill 5575), Sale of distressed condominium units (Senate Bill 2664), Workers' Compensation Act (Senate Bill 3287), Transfer on Death Instrument (TODI) Cleanup (Senate Bill 2656), Marriage rewrite (House Bill 1452) and Eavesdropping. More information on each bill is available below the video.
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May 28, 2014 |
Practice News
The owner of a condo unit may not withhold monthly assessments and other expenses in response to an alleged failure by her condominium association to maintain common elements and make repairs, a divided Illinois Supreme Court ruled recently.
In a four to three decision, the majority of the justices rejected a theory that condo unit owners should have the same rights as tenants in a leasehold agreement. The issue arose when a Lake County resident/owner of the Spanish Court Two Condominium Association, who had failed to pay her fees for six months, tried to defend herself against the association's attempt to take possession of her unit. She argued that a leaky roof just above her unit had caused extensive water damage, her faulty toilet was not repaired, and that general upkeep of the common areas of the building was not maintained, and thus she was entitled to withhold payment.
The majority of the justices in the 4-3 ruling said a landlord/tenant scenario is contractual and distinguishable from a community living situation. Condo boards and associations could face serious financial difficulties if they had no recourse to collect unpaid assessments, the court observed. Find out more in the June Illinois Bar Journal.