Illinois lawmaker petitions Illinois Supreme Court to vacate decision on weapons ban law

State Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) has filed a post judgment petition with the Illinois Supreme Court to vacate its decision on the weapons ban law.

From: 
WSIU

Judicial Branch Independence: Why It Matters

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association


2.25 hours MCLE credit, including 2.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, and Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Friday, December 8, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 1, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


What does it mean to have an “independent” judicial branch? Why does it matter? Join us for this comprehensive look at judicial branch independence and its impact on your practice, your clients, and the administration of justice. Consider how judges are selected and whether the selection process could change to better promote independence. Learn how the 2023 Code of Judicial Conduct strengthens our judicial branch and impacts your practice. Receive a case law update highlighting recent Illinois Supreme Court decisions.


Welcome
Hon. Jennifer L. Johnson, 22nd Judicial Circuit

Elections, Appointments, Lotteries? A Conversation about Judicial Selection Models
Judicial independence is essential in our American democracy, but are partisan elections a reasonable way to choose who serves as a judge in Illinois? And are there other ways to select those serving our judicial branch? Don’t miss this discussion on the various judicial selection processes, including their flaws and benefits.
Moderator: Steven F. Pflaum, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP
Hon. Mathias W. Delort (ret.), Illinois Appellate Court, First District
Hon. Lloyd A. Karmeier (ret.), Illinois Supreme Court
Hon. M. Carol Pope (ret.), Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District

Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023: How it Impacts Your Practice
Judicial ethics is not just for judges. This presentation explains why judicial ethics matters to practicing lawyers, and offers practical advice for handling sticky situations.
Prof. John E. Corkery, University of Illinois Chicago
Mary Robinson, Robinson, Stewart, Montgomery & Doppke, LLC
Hon. Carl A. Walker, Illinois Appellate Court, First District

Independence in Action: From BIPA to Assault Weapons
Join us for an in-depth discussion that highlights the Illinois Supreme Court’s most recent term with a focus on practical advice for lawyers in medical negligence, personal injury, civil arbitration, commercial litigation, and criminal law.
Moderator: Hon. James E. Snyder (ret.), JAMS
Hon. Maureen O. Hannon, Circuit Court of Cook County
Hon. David R. Navarro, Illinois Appellate Court, First District
Hon. Paul B. Novak, 19th Judicial Circuit

Closing Remarks
Hon. Clare J. Quish, Circuit Court of Cook County

Program Coordinators: The Illinois Judges Association Educational Programming Committee. Judges Clare J. Quish and Jennifer Johnson (Committee Co-Chairs), Hon. Janelle K. Christensen (19th Judicial Circuit ), Hon. Ann Celine Walsh (18th Judicial Circuit), Hon. Christy W. Solverson (1st Judicial Circuit), Hon. April Troemper (7th Judicial Circuit), and Hon. Julie K. Katz (retired)

Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $78.75 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $157.50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Illinois 2024: New Year, New Laws

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Bench & Bar Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 29, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Back by popular demand! Join us for this annual program as Judge Jennifer Johnson presents a review of the new laws that will take effect throughout the new year. This engaging seminar examines the new statutory laws for 2024, while discussing how the law has changed. A look at how the law may be impacted in the future is also included.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Hon. Michael J. Chmiel, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock

Program Speaker:
Hon. Jennifer L. Johnson, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock


Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Single-Family Residential Construction: The Owner's Perspective - Part 1

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Construction Law Section


2.25 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 29, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Investing in the construction of a new home or remodeling an existing home may be one of the largest financial investments that a client may make. Moreover, securing the home of “their dreams” is also an emotional investment by the client. Don’t miss this two-part on-demand program that gives you an overview of the various construction law issues from the owner’s perspective, which will allow you to better protect your clients from construction and payment disputes with their contractors and guide them to a smoother journey to obtain their dream home. Part 1 topics include:
  • The importance of a written contract, plans and specifications, and change orders
  • The applicable laws and statutes that are designed to help your client;
  • The restrictions and limitations in recorded documents; and
  • The various insurance coverage you should require of contractors, including commercial liability insurance, builder’s risk insurance, and worker’s compensation insurance.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Stanley N. Wasser , Feldman Wasser, Springfield

The Importance of the Written Contract, Written Plans and Specifications, and Written Change Orders
Join us for an in-depth discussion of why having good paper trail will always help your client protect their construction interests. Topics include the importance of written contracts, why having construction plans and specification in writing helps makes sure all involved parties understand the expectations, and when to make sure change orders are submitted in writing.
Howard W. Feldman, Feldman Wasser, Springfield
Mark B. Grzymala , Grzymala Law Offices, P.C., Skokie

Applicable Laws
This presentation examines the applicable laws that are designed to help your client, including the Home Repair Fraud Act, Home Repair and Remodeling Act, Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act, Illinois Commercial Code, Illinois Plumbing Code, and Illinois Residential Building Code Act. Permitting ordinances and restrictions/limitations in recorded documents are also discussed.
David T. Arena, Arena Law Office, LLC, Park Ridge
Cornelius F. Riordan , Hahn Loeser, Chicago

Having a Legitimate, Insured, and Licensed Contractor
Choosing an insured and licensed contractor is important to the overall financial safety of your client’s construction project. This segment examines various insurance options to be aware (as well as what each type covers), including commercial liability insurance, builder’s risk insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance.
Justin L. Weisberg, Robbins, DiMonte, Ltd. Chicago
Stanley N. Wasser, Feldman Wasser, Springfield


Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $78.75 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $157.50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Attorney General Raoul charges Fulton County man with possession of child pornography

Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Vermont, Illinois man with possession of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online.

From: 
Madison - St. Clair Record

Practical Tips for Trial and Beyond

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Tort Law Section


4.0 hours MCLE credit, including 4.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professional Responsibility MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Friday, December 1, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: January 25, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Join us for this half-day seminar that gives you the practical tips you need to handle your next trial (and beyond). Attorneys with basic to intermediate practice experience who prepare and present trial cases will get step-by-step guidance in all areas of the trial process, including: motions in limine, pre-trial motions, jury selection, opening and closing statements, direct and cross-examination, introducing evidence, motions at trial, and post-trial motions.


Program Coordinators:
Judith E. Conway, Cooney & Conway, Chicago
Josh Rohrscheib, Onward Injury Law, Bloomington

Program Moderator:
Judith E. Conway, Cooney & Conway, Chicago

Program Chat Moderator:
Josh Rohrscheib, Onward Injury Law, Bloomington

Program Speakers:
Michael Alkaraki, Leahy Hoste Alkaraki, Chicago
Hon. Elizabeth M. Budzinski, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
James E. Coogan, Coogan & Gallagher, Park Ridge
Brion W. Doherty, Robert J. Napleton & Associates, Chicago
Marty L. Glink, Law Office of Martin L Glink, Arlington Heights
Ronald W. Kalish, Steinberg, Goodman & Kalish, Chicago
Courtney E. Lindbert, Cunningham Meyer & Vedrine, P.C., Chicago
Dennis M. Lynch, Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C., Chicago
Hon. Thomas V. Lyons, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Julie Murphy, Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, Chicago
Hon. Eileen O’Connor, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Gretchen Powell, Smith Blake Hill LLC, Chicago


Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $140 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $280
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Staffing agencies not exempted from antitrust law, state Supreme Court rules

Staffing agencies – a fast-growing industry that employs nearly a million Illinoisans – are not exempt from the state’s antitrust law, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled late last week. The decision comes 3 ½ years after Attorney General Kwame Raoul sued a trio of staffing agencies, alleging they used their mutual client to coordinate no-poach agreements, which created a secondary agreement to pay temp staffers less than the market rate.

From: 
Capitol News Illinois

Illinois court says 7th Circuit fumbled Illinois law in BIPA decision

Companies face significant exposure from privacy related claims. An increasing number of these claims result from efforts at the state level to regulate use of personal data. One key focus is Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, but as lawmakers in other states continue to introduce legislation aimed at regulating the use of biometric data, more court decisions may muddy the waters regarding what conduct may be covered under a general liability policy.

From: 
The National Law Review

Illinois Supreme Court Assigns Hon. David Vancil to Fourth District Appellate Court

Justice Lisa Holder White and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the assignment of Ninth Circuit Chief Judge David L. Vancil Jr., to the Fourth District Appellate Court. Judge Vancil is being assigned to fill a newly created seat in the Fourth Appellate District. The assignment is effective February 2, 2024, and will continue until further order of the Court.

From: 
The Bar News

Illinois Supreme Court denies retrial for shooter in 2018 Champaign murder

A Champaign man convicted of killing Ricky Green in 2018 will not get a new trial. In a ruling released Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court agreed with lower courts that a key witness to the shooting didn't need to appear in court before Michael Chatman was found guilty.

From: 
WAND