Section Newsletters

Articles From Justice Michael B. Hyman

The Chiefs’ DOs and DON’Ts By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, July 2014 What advice would chief judges around the State offer to judges?
Why judges should embrace limited scope representation By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, April 2014 Judges owe it to themselves—and the litigants and counsel appearing before them—to fully understand and follow the rules which the Supreme Court established principally as a response to the growing needs of self-represented parties.
1 comment (Most recent June 17, 2019)
The uncommon courage of Operation Greylord’s unsung heroes By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, September 2013 Thirty years have passed since Operation Greylord first made headlines as the sobriquet for the federal investigation of bribery, influence peddling, and other egregious abuses of the public trust.
Advice for judges based on six ancient sayings By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, August 2013 The author has selected six Chinese sayings that are concise yet chock-full of lessons for judges to absorb and practice.
Ten rules for being human while practicing law By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, May 2013 10 guidelines worth remembering.
1 comment (Most recent May 14, 2013)
Taking a bite out of justice By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, February 2013 A recent study shows that in order to keep mentally fresh and sharp on the bench, a judge should eat a healthy breakfast, never skip lunch, and take a break whenever not feeling his or her most productive.
Start spreading the news By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, December 2012 Unless addressed, ignorance of what occurs in our courthouses and courtrooms will imperil not only the public’s general perception of justice, but also, in time, the overall stability and even role of the justice system itself.
The Constitution’s 225th anniversary: An opportunity lost By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Administrative Law, October 2012 The 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution should be a time to raise public awareness of constitutional rights, promote participatory democracy, and foster better appreciation of the document's key elements.
The Constitution’s 225th anniversary: An opportunity lost By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, October 2012 The 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution should be a time to raise public awareness of constitutional rights, promote participatory democracy, and foster better appreciation of the document's key elements.
2 comments (Most recent October 22, 2012)
Don’t! By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Government Lawyers, October 2012 Author and Judge Michael Hyman provides his list of DOs and DONTs that apply equally to proceedings in court and everyday life at the office.
Don’t! By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, September 2012 Author and Judge Michael Hyman provides his list of DOs and DONTs that apply equally to proceedings in court and everyday life at the office.
Fulfilling the promise of equal access for all Illinoisans: The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, July 2012 The Illinois Supreme Court, through its Commission on Access to Justice, has committed the legal profession to ensure that justice is never beyond anyone’s reach.
Not all majority opinion assignment systems are equal By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, June 2012 The Illinois Supreme Court has long followed a rotation system in assigning majority opinions, which a recent study called “most effective in promoting race and gender equality in opinion-writing assignments.”
No need to fear anyone playing to courtroom cameras By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, May 2012 One fear opponents of courtroom cameras frequently raise is that judges and lawyers will play to the cameras. But studies do not find this happening in states that already allow cameras.
Justice Stevens and the virtue of being indifferent to popularity By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, April 2012 Throughout his nearly 40 years as a judge, John Paul Stevens adhered to judicial neutrality by following the principle he expressed at the CBA luncheon almost 38 years ago, “it is the business of judges to be indifferent to popularity.” And in so doing, he became one of the most popular justices of our era.
1 comment (Most recent April 5, 2012)
An interview with the other Holmes By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, October 2011 An imagined conversation between the author and Sherlock Holmes.
Start spreading the news By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, December 2010 When it comes to properly informing the public about the courts, we in the legal arena must take the lead to find ways to cultivate, engage, and educate an indifferent, uninformed citizenry.
An impartial Judiciary, if we are willing to keep it By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, August 2010 At risk, if the public distrusts the judiciary, is the rending of the very fiber that weaves justice through the soul of our democratic system.
Perceptions of justice By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, April 2010 Most judges, if asked, consider themselves free of bias, even-handed, and open-minded, but something is certainly amiss when large numbers of people of color, decade after decade, perceive the courts to be either biased or inequitable.
Why I keep an eye on Lincoln By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, July 2009 Few historical figures are as enduring or iconic as Lincoln. And fewer still as legendary throughout the world. He has been described as “the indispensable American,” which might somewhat explain his appeal. But it does not explain all of it.
Further notes for a law lecture By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, February 2009 Notes for a Law Lecture” were found by his White House secretaries after his death. It is unknown if Lincoln ever delivered the lecture, but the Notes have come to be a classic statement of practical advice for aspiring lawyers. Often quoted and reprinted, the Notes continue to be celebrated for their timeless relevance and sound message.
Remembering Judge Eugene Pincham By William H. Hooks & Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, July 2008 On April 3, 2008, Justice R. Eugene Pincham passed. The following are two remembrances of Justice Pincham’s life and contributions to the legal community.
Two Slices from Life By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, February 2008 Recently, my father gave me a thin volume of poetry published in 1935 that belonged to my grandfather, a lawyer, law professor and referee in bankruptcy.
Chair’s Column By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, November 2007 A message from Section Chair Michael Hyman.
How lawyers can temper judicial temperament By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, August 2007 A steady, fair-minded temperament is one of the most defining attributes of a judge.
The taming of the rude By Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, July 2006 Lack of civility concerns every judge and lawyer who takes pride in our profession.
Civility By Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, July 2002 When will we learn that we must change if our public image is to change?
Civility in our work place By Michael B. Hyman Workers’ Compensation Law, April 2002 In the last Workers' Compensation Newsletter I advised that the Supreme Court has commissioned a study on civility among attorneys.
Clarence Darrow remembered By Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, October 2001 Perhaps America's greatest trial lawyer ever, Clarence Darrow, called Chicago home.

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