Attorney General issues opinionsBy Lynn PattonGovernment Lawyers, June 2004Under section 4 of the Attorney General Act (15 ILCS 205/4 (West 2002)), the Attorney General is authorized, upon request, to give written legal opinions to State officers and State's Attorneys on matters relating to their official duties.
Case law updateBy Lee Ann SchoeffelGovernment Lawyers, June 2004Clark v. White, 343 Ill. App. 3d 689 (4th District, September 25, 2003). Hearing officer's decision to deny applicant a restricted driving permit is against the manifest weight of the evidence because applicant proved by clear and convincing evidence both that lack of driving privileges caused him an undue hardship, requiring that either he miss work or that his wife turn down overtime pay in order to transport him to work, and that he had resolved his alcohol problem.
Legislative updateGovernment Lawyers, June 2004The Illinois General Assembly has introduced numerous bills to be reviewed this spring.
Case law updateBy Lee Ann SchoeffelGovernment Lawyers, March 2004Recent cases of interest.
In-sitesBy Kelly WingardGovernment Lawyers, March 2004Now that the last remnants of Christmas have been packed away and hauled to the attic, it is time to pull out the calculator, W-2s, and receipts in preparation for the 2003 tax-filing season.
ISBA Assembly adopts tribute to government lawyer fire victimsGovernment Lawyers, March 2004During the ISBA Assembly meeting held November 7, 2003, the following resolution was adopted to honor the memory of three government lawyers who died in a fire October 17, 2003, at the Cook County Administration Building.
News you can useGovernment Lawyers, March 2004Many government lawyers face a common challenge: struggling to pay off large law school loans while earning low wages.
Legislative updateGovernment Lawyers, December 2003Creates the FY2004 Budget Implementation Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to make changes relating to State finance and revenues that are necessary to implement the State’s FY2004 budget.
Case law updateBy Lee Ann SchoeffelGovernment Lawyers, November 2003Doe v. Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, No. 1-02-1045 (1st District, June 26, 2003).
Encore CLE programBy Cynthia I. ErvinGovernment Lawyers, November 2003On September 12, 2003, the Standing Committee on Government Lawyers, in conjunction with the Government Bar Association, sponsored a continuing legal education program in Springfield, produced by and for government lawyers, entitled “Ethical Considerations in Public Sector Law.”
In-sitesBy Lee Ann SchoeffelGovernment Lawyers, November 2003This edition of the In-sites column provides a listing of some useful Web sites with information about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”).
In-sitesBy Chuck GunnarsonGovernment Lawyers, August 2003The National Archives and Records Administration has placed its United States Government Manual online at <http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/index.html>.
Legislative updateGovernment Lawyers, August 2003The 93rd Illinois General Assembly adjourned on May 31, 2003, and will return for the fall veto session in mid-November.
News you can useGovernment Lawyers, August 2003In an effort to supersede an executive order signed by Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, the General Assembly on May 31, 2003, passed Senate Bill 1901, to amend the Executive Reorganization Implementation Act (15 ILCS 15).
State’s attorney’s efforts recognizedGovernment Lawyers, August 2003Will County State's Attorney Jeff Tomczak will receive the Illinois State Crime Commission's State's Attorney of the Year Award.
Case law updateBy Lee Ann SchoeffelGovernment Lawyers, May 2003South 51 Development Corp. v. Vega, No. 1-01-3251, 1-01-3255, 1-01-3260 cons. (1st District, November 26, 2002).
Legislative updateGovernment Lawyers, May 2003The following is a synopsis of bills introduced during the 93rd General Assembly that may be of general interest to government attorneys.
News you can useGovernment Lawyers, May 2003In an effort touted to streamline state government and improve efficiency, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich on March 31, 2003, signed Executive Order Number 10 (2003).
Case law updateBy Lee Ann SchoeffelGovernment Lawyers, February 2003Dahman v. Illinois Department of Human Rights, No. 4-01-0675 (4th District, October 18, 2002).
Legislative updateGovernment Lawyers, February 2003The following is the fourth article in a series of articles summarizing pieces of legislation acted upon by the 92nd General Assembly that may be of general interest to government attorneys.
News you can useGovernment Lawyers, February 2003The American Bar Association's Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division is accepting nominations for its three national awards, which will be presented at the ABA's Annual Meeting in August 2003, in San Francisco, California.
Attorney General issues opinionsBy Lee Ann SchoeffelGovernment Lawyers, December 2002Under section 4 of the Attorney General Act (15 ILCS 205/4 (West 2000)), the Attorney General is authorized, upon request, to give written legal opinions to state officers and state's attorneys on matters relating to their official duties.
Legislative updateBy Cynthia I. ErvinGovernment Lawyers, December 2002The following is the third article in a series of articles summarizing pieces of legislation enacted by the 92nd General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Ryan that may be of general interest to government attorneys.
News you can useGovernment Lawyers, December 2002The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability is sponsoring the 2003 Levit Essay Contest for young lawyers and law students who are members of the ABA.
Secret agendas and the Illinois Open Meetings Act*By Mark E. WojcikGovernment Lawyers, December 2002The Illinois Open Meetings Act is designed to give citizens advance notice of all meetings at which any business of a public body is discussed or acted upon in any way.
So you’re looking for a job?By Trisha CrowleyGovernment Lawyers, December 2002Lawyers working for government agencies are frequently affected by the biennial or quadrennial election process.
Report of the Governor’s Commission on Capital PunishmentBy Patrick J. Hughes, Jr., Paul A. Logli, & Lynn PattonGovernment Lawyers, November 2002Editors' Note: On April 15, 2002, the long-awaited Report of the Governor's Commission on Capital Punishment was released.
Attorney General issues opinionsBy Lynn PattonGovernment Lawyers, August 2002Under section 4 of the Attorney General Act (15 ILCS 205/4 (West 2000)), the Attorney General is authorized, upon request, to give written legal opinions to state officers and state's attorneys on matters relating to their official duties.
Case law updateGovernment Lawyers, August 2002The provisions of section 3-111(a)(7) of the Administrative Review Law (735 ILCS 5/3-111(a)(7) (West 2000)) do not allow plaintiff to invoke the jurisdiction of the circuit court to seek an untimely review of the Commission's decision and remand the cause for the taking of "newly discovered evidence."
Government lawyers and the attorney-client privilegeBy Rosalyn B. KaplanGovernment Lawyers, August 2002In In re: A Witness Before the Special Grand Jury 2000-2, No. 01-3386 (7th Cir. April 23, 2002), the Seventh Circuit addressed, at the request of a state official, whether his government attorney could refuse to answer questions posed by a grand jury on the basis of attorney-client privilege.