Section Newsletters

Articles on Child Law

Family Law Meets Immigration Law By Kathy Jara Child Law, June 2024 In 1990 Congress created a new form of humanitarian relief for immigrant children, known as Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Since its inception, the requirements have modified and expanded.
Guardianships vs. Adoptions of Minors in Illinois By Deanna Hoyt Child Law, June 2024 While both guardianships and adoptions can give parties the right to the care, custody, and control of minor children, they have different legal standards and legal consequences.
Parenting and Alcohol Addiction By January Stramaglia Child Law, June 2024 In Hines v. Lozano, the court refines and affirms its ability to restrict parenting time based upon alcohol or drug addiction.
Parenting Coordinators and Rule 909 By Anna Aguilar & Erin Wilson Child Law, June 2024 As defined by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 909(b), a parenting coordinator is for coparents who are unable or unwilling to cooperate in making parenting decisions, communicate effectively with regards to issues involving their children, implement and comply with parenting agreements and orders, or shield their children from the impact of parental conflict.
Restrictions on Parenting Time: How the Court Protects Children from Serious Endangerment By Dayna L. Perlut Child Law, June 2024 Before a court can put a restriction on a parent’s parenting time, the court must conduct a hearing and at that hearing find by a preponderance of the evidence that a parent engaged in conduct that seriously endangered the child’s mental, moral or physical health or that significantly impaired the child’s emotional development.
So Guardians ad Litem Can Now File Pleadings ‘Relating to Procedural Matters’ – But Should or Will They? By Marc A. Bangser Child Law, June 2024 In January 2024, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act was modified to allow guardians ad litem to "file pleadings relating to procedural matters."
New Law Supports Recovery for Youth Trafficking Survivors By Tayler Matthews Human and Civil Rights, May 2024 A new law, Public Act 103-0191, follows federal sentencing reform efforts to amend the unfair sentencing practices that impact criminalized youth trafficking survivors.
Constant Allegations of Abuse and Petitions for Orders of Protection May Have Unintended Consequences By Ann R. Pieper Child Law, April 2024 Without proof, ongoing petitions for orders of protections or Department of Children and Family Services investigations that the other parent is abusing the child puts both parents at a real risk of the state filing a juvenile abuse case against both parents.
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How Child Protection Services Is Failing to Protect Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: An Examination of the Domestic Violence Safety Threat Criteria in Child Welfare By Amber M. Alexander Child Law, April 2024 The documented long lasting effects of witnessing domestic violence as a child underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support and prevention measures to break the cycle of violence and protect vulnerable children.
Interesting Intersection in Illinois Laws By Dakotah L. Hubler Child Law, April 2024 An analysis of a case in which the longstanding Juvenile Court Act of 1987 intersected with the new Pretrial Fairness Act.
International Child Abduction: An Overlooked Form of Abuse By Sean P. Sullivan Child Law, April 2024 When a child is wrongfully detained in a foreign country by a parent, it can seem overwhelming and daunting for the custodial parent to imagine how they would ever get their child back. 
Outline of the Administrative Appeal Process for a Department of Children and Family Services Administrative Appeal By Lori G. Levin Child Law, April 2024 The Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act authorizes the Department of Children and Family Services to take actions to protect the health, safety, and best interests of children where they are vulnerable to abuse and neglect.
Child Law Section Council Establishes Subcommittee on Guardian Ad Litem Best Practices Bench and Bar, February 2024 An announcement of the creation of the ISBA Child Law Section Council's GAL Best Practices Subcommittee.
ISBA Child Law Section Council Guardian Ad Litem Best Practices Subcommittee Mission Statement Bench and Bar, February 2024 The mission statement for the Child Law Section Council's new subcommittee.
Child Rights From a Pediatric Perspective and in Practice in Germany By Elizabeth Clarke Child Law, January 2024 Unlike other nations that have successfully incorporated international children's rights standards into their legal framework, the U.S. juvenile justice system has failed to do so.
New Law Ensures That Children Can Only Be Prosecuted With Violations of Illinois Law for Actions Committed in Illinois By Scott F. Main Child Law, January 2024 The Illinois Supreme Court concluded in In re Kelan W. that the plain language of the Juvenile Court Act permitted charging a kid with violating any state or federal law and that it did not matter where the act occurred.
New Law Supports Recovery for Youth Trafficking Survivors By Tayler Matthews Child Law, January 2024 A new law, Public Act 103-0191, follows federal sentencing reform efforts to amend the unfair sentencing practices that impact criminalized youth trafficking survivors.
Troubling Conditions in Juvenile Detention Centers By Elizabeth Clarke Child Law, January 2024 In December 2023, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice published reports from its annual juvenile detention center inspections, finding that only three of the centers were found in compliance with minimum standards.
You Can’t Get Blood From a Turnip: Public Act 103-0379 and Eliminating Court Fines, Fees, and Assessments for Juveniles By Bridget Schott Child Law, January 2024 An overview of Public Act 103-0379, which pivots Illinois away from trying to collect fees from court-involved juveniles.
Combatting Child Monetization: A Discussion of the Illinois Family Vlogging Law By Kristen D. Brooks Intellectual Property, December 2023 Illinois is now the first U.S. state to successfully pass a law intended to protect the rights of children who are the subject of family vlogs.
Adult Adoptions: In Re Konieczny and the Importance of Proper Pleadings By Tiffany Horstein Child Law, May 2023 A summary and analysis of In Re Adoption of Ariana B. Konieczny, an Adult, which sheds light on the importance of proper pleadings to accomplish our client’s goal and some of the possible implications of adult adoptions.
Save the Date: Saturday November 18, 2023 – National Adoption Day By Hon. Martin J. Mengarelli Child Law, May 2023 The goal of National Adoption Day, which is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving, is to bring attention to the children in foster care waiting to be adopted.
Child Abuse: It Affects Us All By Peggy McGuire Child Law, April 2023 Although child abuse is a topic that most people do not want to think about or discuss, it has long standing implications for society.
GAL’s Perspective on Proposed Amendments to 750 ILCS 5/506 Representation of a Child By Sean P. Sullivan Child Law, April 2023 Several Illinois legislators have proposed legislation to amend or alter the language of 750 ILCS 506 of the Ilinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, which governs how children are represented in the court system.
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates By Mari Christopherson Child Law, April 2023 The cornerstone of the CASA mission is providing best-interest advocacy for children before the court due to allegations of abuse and/or neglect.
Illinois Expands Youthful Parole By Hallie M. Bezner Child Law, April 2023 In February, Gov. Pritzker officially signed HB 1064 into law, effectively abolishing juvenile life without parole as we know it in Illinois.
Equip for Equality Education Justice Project By Jessica Gingold Child Law, December 2022 An overview of Equip for Equality’s Education Justice Project.
Illinois, Home of World’s First Juvenile Court, Fails to Provide Rights to Children By Elizabeth Clarke Child Law, December 2022 A new report by Human Rights Watch finds that most U.S. states, including Illinois, fail to comply with international child rights standards.
Illinois House Resolution Urges In-Person Hearings for Juveniles Where Liberty Is at Stake By Scott F. Main Child Law, December 2022 In March of 2022, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Resolution 616, urging the Illinois Supreme Court to require Illinois courts to responsibly transition juvenile delinquency proceedings back to in-person hearings, especially where liberty interests are at stake.
Juvenile Redeploy IL 2015-2021 By John J. Rekowski Child Law, December 2022 A new report documents the success of Juvenile Redeploy IL in expanding community-based alternatives for youth at risk of commitment to juvenile prison.

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