ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers Income shares and child support. Public Act 99-764, Parentage Act of 2015. Public Act 99-769, IMDMA cleanup. Public Act 99-763, Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015). Public Act 99-775 and Personal guardian. Public Act 99-821.

More information on each bill is available below the video.

Income shares and child support. Public Act 99-764 (Kelly Burke, D-Oak Lawn; Hastings, D-Matteson) moves Illinois into the majority of other states that have an “income shares” model for adjudicating child support. Effective July 1, 2017. 

In the August Illinois Bar Journal, ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington summarizes legislation of special interest to lawyers passed by the General Assembly this session and sent to the governor. As of Thursday morning, we've updated the list to indicate which bills the governor has signed. We've also included the public act number and linked to the full text of the new laws.

Find out which bills have been signed and read the full text.

The Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) has graciously agreed to present a short training on eviction for those interested in taking on pro bono cases at noon on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at the ISBA Chicago Regional Office. Speakers will discuss LCBH, pro bono opportunities, as well as discuss eviction related topics. Register here to reserve a boxed lunch for $10 or bring your own.

No CLE credit given for this program.

Register at www.isba.org/sections/yld/pdl

Deadline to register is August 23.

Pursuant to action taken today by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Judge Valarie E. Turner has been temporarily reassigned to duties other than judicial duties in the office of the Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District, Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. The assignment is effective until further notice.

The decision to reassign Judge Turner followed a meeting of the Circuit Court of Cook County Executive Committee convened today by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans to discuss allegations of improper conduct involving Judge Turner. The committee was informed that Judge Turner allegedly permitted attorney Rhonda Crawford, a law clerk with the Office of the Chief Judge and candidate for judicial election in November 2016, to adjudicate at least two cases from the bench while wearing a judicial robe in Judge Turner’s courtroom.

Until today, Judge Turner had been assigned to the Sixth Municipal District Courthouse in Markham where she heard a variety of matters in rotation with other judges. 

 “The public’s confidence in the judiciary is the cornerstone of our system of justice, and I have taken the steps necessary to preserve that confidence,” said Chief Judge Evans. “Because the investigation is pending, I believe it is inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

In addition, Crawford was suspended pending internal investigation without pay by the Office of the Chief Judge. Her current annual salary is $56,961, and she has been employed as a law clerk/staff attorney with the office since 2011.            

Join your peers for an afternoon of socializing and horse racing at this annual event! 

When: Saturday, September 24, 2016, Noon – 6 p.m.

Tickets will be available for pick up at 11:15 a.m. on race day at the will call window, Grandstand Entrance (east side off of Wilke Road entrance).

Where: Arlington Park Racecourse, 2200 W Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
ISBA will be at the Canopy Tables in the Winners Circle Section.

Cost: Cost: $9 per adult, $4 per youth age 4-17. Tickets are complimentary for children 3 and under. General Admission cost includes admission to the park, a daily racing guide, and a fabulous day of Thoroughbred racing!

Lunch is not included but our seating area is BYOB!

Please register by Wednesday, September 21, 2016

For information on permitted and prohibited items in the park, please visit: http://www.arlingtonpark.com/visit/general-information

Questions: Please email Blake Howard at bhoward@isba.org.

Attorney Brian Murphy discusses why you need a plaintiff's expert, where to find them, what to provide them, and how to prepare them.

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman announced today the formation of a judicial screening committee for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

The screening committee was formed for the purpose of assessing the qualifications of those persons who have applied for appointment to the office of At-Large Judge of the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Harry E. Clem on September 15, 2016. Under the Illinois Constitution, the vacancy will be filled by Supreme Court appointment.

Asked and Answered

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q. I am the owner of a seven attorney firm in New York City. I have a bookkeeper that handles the accounting function. I receive monthly financial reports - but I believe I need a better tool to stay on top of my firm. I feel that I am lost, I don't want to take time to access different software modules such as our billing system, accounts payable system, general ledger system, etc. to get the information that I need to effectively manage the firm. We use Timeslips for billing and QuickBooks for bookkeeping. I would appreciate your thoughts.

On September 9, 2016, The Kennedy Forum and the Lawyers' Assistance Program will co-host a breakfast focused on the prevalence of depression, addiction, and anxiety in the legal profession. A landmark study conducted by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs revealed substantial and widespread levels of problem drinking and other behavioral health problems in the U.S. legal profession. The event will feature Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, Brian Cuban, ESPN legal writer/reporter Lester Munson, and the study authors for a panel discussion. 

Some of the scariest stories are those where responsible lawyers who care about acting in an appropriate manner get into disciplinary trouble – because if it can happen to them, it can happen to us. Join us in Chicago or via live webcast on September 16, 2016 as our speaker, Stuart Teicher, gives us a guided tour along the path where common missteps are frequently made by otherwise honorable attorneys. Topics include: the responsibilities of a subordinate lawyer and what to do if you’re told to do something unethical; how to avoid making false statements or misrepresenting the truth in five key areas; the duties of a supervising attorney toward associate lawyers; the changing trends toward professionalism in the practice; conflicts of interest issues; keeping your attorney-client relationships at an appropriate level; and substance abuse and money issues.