The Circuit Court of Cook County is alerting the public that effective April 2, 2016, the Cook County Department of Facilities Management will no longer provide storage lockers for the public to store banned items at courthouses. This includes the Leighton Criminal Court Building, at 26th Street and California Avenue, where smartphones have been banned for the past 3 years. Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans was notified by the Cook County Department of Facilities Management that, due to security and staffing concerns, it will remove all storage lockers that it had installed at courthouses as a service for the public to safely store banned items while they conduct court business. “It is critical that the message gets out that there will no longer be lockers available beginning April 2 at any of the courthouses,” said Chief Judge Evans. “At the Leighton Criminal Court Building, my particular concern is that people who are relying on the county’s storage lockers won’t be able to clear security and will miss court if they bring a smartphone.” People who miss court could be subjected to bail forfeitures, be held in contempt of court or have warrants issued for their arrest. Family and friends of defendants and victims could also miss court hearings, and subpoenaed witnesses would be subject to being held in contempt of court and possible civil liability to the party issuing the subpoena. The Sheriff has banned approximately two dozen items from all Cook County courthouses, and the list includes items such as knives, mace spray, cameras and recording devices.

Attorney Erin Wright Lothson discusses the top 3 things lawyers need to consider when using social media.

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers Condominium Property Act (Senate Bill 2359), Condominiums and common-interest communities (Senate Bill 2358), Forcible Entry and Detainer Article (Senate Bill 3166) and Illinois Human Rights Act (Senate Bill 2506). More information on each bill is available below the video. Condominium Property Act. Senate Bill 2359 (Mulroe, D-Chicago) amends the powers and duties’ section of the current Act. Under current law, the board (by a majority vote of the entire board of managers) has the right to assign its future income from common expenses or other sources and to mortgage or pledge substantially all the remaining assets of the association unless the condominium instruments expressly provide to the contrary. Senate Bill 2356 deletes the statutory clause “unless the condominium instruments provide to the contrary.” Scheduled for hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee. Condominiums and common-interest communities. Senate Bill 2358 (Mulroe, D-Chicago) requires an assignment of a developer’s interest in the property to be in writing and recorded for it to be effective. Scheduled for hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee.

Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. We are an 18-attorney firm based in Tucson, Arizona. Our practice is a boutique general liability defense firm. Our clients tend to be self-insured large corporations and smaller business firms. Currently all of our clients are billed by the hour. Recently, we have been discussing whether we should propose an alternative billing approach to our clients. We would be interested in your thoughts.