Practice News

Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald and the Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday the creation of a Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning to maximize the use of court and community resources in aiding the rehabilitation and treatment of accused offenders with mental health issues. The Committee is generally charged with studying, reviewing and collaborating "on issues and matters related to mental illness and the justice system" with the aim of making recommendations to the Supreme Court. Specifically, the Supreme Court has asked the Committee to formulate and prioritize recommendations in improving communication, data gathering and information sharing between the mental health and criminal justice systems. It is expected that members of the Committee will participate in the continuing statewide strategic planning process initiated by the Division of Mental Health of the Illinois Department of Human Services. The Court also asked the committee to identify and consider appropriate diversion models for persons with mental illness and to report on what works best in Mental Health courts in Illinois, including how to continue care for persons with mental illness as they transition from the criminal justice system to mental health services. Judges appointed to the Committee serve in the counties of Cook, Madison, Rock Island, St. Clair, Kankakee, Macon, Lake, McLean, Kane and Winnebago, but recommendations could affect criminal justice and mental health populations statewide.

SJRCA 120 (Harmon, D-Oak Park) requires minimum periods as a licensed attorney before he or she is eligible to serve as a circuit, appellate, or supreme court judge. Associate judges are not included in this amendment. As introduced, it required 10 years for a circuit, 12 years for an appellate, and 15 years for a supreme court judge. SJRCA 120 was amended so that circuit judges serving in subcircuits must be licensed for five years. It is on third reading in the Senate.

Last month in its much-awaited Provena opinion, the Illinois Supreme Court held that a hospital that gives away less that one percent of its annual revenue on free patient care doesn't qualify for a charitable property tax exemption. But in his article in the most recent ISBA Tax Trends newsletter, Bill Seitz points out, among other things, what the court didn't decide. "A majority of the court did not agree on the portion of the plurality opinion that addressed charitable use -- what evidence supports a conclusion that the charitable services is sufficient to be considered the primary purpose of an institution," he wrote. "Since the discussion of charitable use did not command a majority of the court it is not binding under the doctrine of stare decisis." Read his summary of the opinion, and make plans to attend the Law Ed program on Provena May 6 in Chicago.

Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. More and more law firms are using web sites. Where are these sites falling short? What about news rooms? What are your suggestions? A. There is another audience besides clients and prospective clients. That audience is the media. Law firm web sites need to direct more focus on the media and recognize the benefit of effective public relations. Law firm web sites should incorporate first-rate online press rooms. The first wave of law firm web sites was often the brainchild of the marketing department or the attorneys. As a result reporters were often forgotten in the rush to publish.  However, for most firms, the news media is a clear and well-defined audience. What type of information should we provide that is key to this audience? Contact Information Too many web sites bury any contact information, much less specifics on whom to call for an “on the record” statement. Many sites, if they include any contact information, will only include an address, phone and fax – no names. If you want to make friends with the media, make it easy for them to call (or e-mail) you. Whether it is a link from the home page, or an easily-found link in the “about us” or “news” sections of your web site – give the media basic information about branch offices – along with names and phone numbers. Don’t forget the area code. If you are concerned about e-mail overload, set up a special e-mail address for media inquiries (but make sure that it is checked more than once a day).