This May’s Illinois Bar Journal cover story examines the state’s sweeping criminal justice reforms signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Pritzker. The IBJ interviewed defense attorneys, prosecutors, and others who reflected on the legislation. “Some people view it as, ‘They threw every reform into this sausage maker, and this is what came out,’” Stephen Baker, a retired Cook County public defender and member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section Council, told the IBJ. “Some people take the position that, if you wanted a massive change, the time to do it is now. People are just fed up with the conduct of the police. And the train is leaving the station; if you don’t want to get on, get out of the way.” Others spoke optimistically about the reforms: “The breadth of the bill is one of its strong points,” says Jerrod Williams, a judicial clerk and member of the ISBA Steering Committee on Racial Inequality. “Solving the problems of crime and law enforcement requires a multi-front approach. I don’t believe law enforcement alone—that is, prosecuting offenders—is in and of itself a solution to crime. It’s a piece of the solution.”

Join ISBA President Dennis Orsey and his wife, Cathy, on a seven-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina. This incredible trip will travel from Venice to Rome. For those who want to spend more time in Venice, an optional Venice pre-cruise program is available.  The cruise is scheduled to take place April 14-21, 2022. A registration form is available online.

To celebrate Well-Being Week in Law, the ISBA is offering a complimentary live yoga program to the first 500 registrants, plus access to four additional on-demand de-stress at your desk classes. Register for the Virtual Wellbeing Box: Destress At Your Desk. You'll receive a daily email starting Monday, May 3 to help you feel better at work.

Join us from 10 until 11 a.m. on May 5 as we kick off Well-Being Week in Law with this complimentary CLE program that explores how the pandemic has impacted the mental health and well-being of Illinois attorneys. Attendees will learn how to help a depressed colleague in need, the repercussions of substance abuse, and how to bridge the gap that the pandemic’s social distancing has created.