USEPA Finalizes Rule to Collect Waste Emissions ChargeBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2024On November 12, 2024, the USEPA announced the final rule with respect to collecting a WEC to better ensure that methane gas reaches the market rather than polluting the air. The final rule implements the directive of Congress and incentivizes operators to take action to conserve energy resources for consumers and to reduce methane emissions.
USEPA Methane RegulationsBy Craig R. HedinEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, May 2024The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules expanding methane emissions regulations for the oil and natural gas industry.
USEPA Methane RegulationsBy Craig R. HedinEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, April 2024The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules expanding methane emissions regulations for the oil and natural gas industry.
USEPA Methane RegulationsBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2024The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules expanding methane emissions regulations for the oil and natural gas industry.
USPTO Issues New Artificial Intelligence Guidelines for PractitionersBy Kristen Brooks & Aaron BrooksIntellectual Property, June 2024The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently issued its Guidance on Use of Artificial Intelligence-Based Tools in Practice Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The Value of a Narrative Response in Family Law CasesBy Judge James A. Shapiro & Adam R. HeusinkveldFamily Law, January 2024The failure of many family law practitioners to appreciate the distinction between pleadings and motions results in the common practice of using the “admit/deny” format in responding to motions.
Venue and Applicable Law in Construction Disputes in IllinoisBy James M. DashConstruction Law, April 2024Unless told otherwise, a contractor who works on a project probably expects that, if a dispute arises out of its compliance with the contract or payment thereunder, the dispute will be heard locally and will be governed by local law.
Viewpoint: Climate change is real … and farmers are the solutionBy Charles R. Stack, MPH, BCES, MASCEFood Law, October 2024As a graduate student at the University of Illinois in the early 1980s, I learned about the immense complexity of the climate riddle and how much farmers contribute to the solutions. I bristle when I read articles blaming American farmers for methane emissions from “cow farts,” dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico from poor fertilizer practices, and other perceived acts that damage our environment.
Village Violates Litigation and Bargaining Exceptions to Open Meetings ActBy Nemura PencylaEmployee Benefits, May 2024The appellate court recently reiterated important issues and rules public bodies must follow when conducting public meetings in light of the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.
Voluntary Intoxication to Negate Specific Intent? People v. Grayer Gives the Green LightBy Mark Kevin Wykoff, Sr.Criminal Justice, March 2024The Illinois Supreme Court recently considered whether evidence of voluntary intoxication is relevant to the issue of intent given that the legislature amended section 6-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961, removing voluntary intoxication as an affirmative defense
Voting Rights for Individuals in Long-Term Care FacilitiesBy Karen Alice KloppeLaw Related Education for the Public, October 2024Individuals who are in long-term care facilities may face various barriers during election cycles. Making voting easier is important for civil engagement by this population given the policy decision focus on health aging in the nation.
Webinar Series for the National Agricultural Law CenterBy Angela PetersFood Law, May 2024As part of its mission, the National Agricultural Law Center is hosting a series of webinars on current and emerging important agricultural and food law topics.
Welcome Back to 2024By Judge Michael ChmielCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, May 2024An introduction to the issue from the editor.
Welcome to the Fall of 2024By Hon. Michael J. ChmielCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, October 2024A note from the editor.
Welcome to the Rural Practice SectionBy Angel WawrzynekRural Practice, October 2024The Rural Practice Section Newsletter is intended to circulate articles and information from the various sections addressing substantive legal updates as well as addressing law practice management and other topics of interest to general rural practitioners.
What Can You Do If Your Client Signed a Release?By Brion W. DohertyTort Law, April 2024A release may be unenforceable if neither plaintiff nor defendant understand the true nature of the plaintiff's injuries on the date the release is signed.
What Do We Mean by ESG?By Christopher P. PerzanEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, December 2024ESG stands for Environmental, Social, Governance. Easy enough, but not very enlightening. Whether it is ESG, sustainability, CSR, CSV, SDGs, or another term, this paradigm is ultimately broadly about a transparent process to understand the environmental and social impacts of an enterprise followed by a plan of action to address those impacts. This approach also allows a company to understand and address external or internal risks, identify potential opportunities, and inform strategic decisions.
What Is a Trust? Part 1: Is a Trust an Entity?By Sherwin D. AbramsReal Estate Law, February 2024Is a trust a relationship, or is it an entity that can hold title to property and that can sue and be sued? The authorities differ.
What Is a Trust? Part 2: Does It Matter?By Sherwin D. AbramsReal Estate Law, January 2024Is a trust a relationship or is it an entity that can hold title to property and that can sue and be sued? The authorities differ.
What Is Civility Anymore in Government Practice?By Angela Fyans-JimenezGovernment Lawyers, November 2024Civility in government practice is crucial for fostering trust, collaboration, and effective communication among officials, constituents, and stakeholders. It involves respectful dialogue, transparency, and a commitment to ethical behavior. If, we, as government practitioners plant the seeds of civility at our level, the hope is that it will grow through multiple levels of governance.
What Is Sex Discrimination?By Madonna T. LechnerLaw Related Education for the Public, October 2024On May 14, 2024, the States of Kansas, Alaska, Utah, and Wyoming filed a complaint against the U. S. Department of Education in Federal District Court alleging that the revised regulation implementing Title IX is contrary to law.
What Is the Effect of Section 1286.40 of the Illinois State Police Rules on a DUI Prosecution?By Larry A. DavisTraffic Laws and Courts, March 2024In People v. Heineman, the Illinois Supreme Court considered a challenge to the conversion factor provided for in section 1286.40 of the Illinois State Police administrative rules in a criminal proceeding when the state sought to establish the defendant's whole blood alcohol concentration based on an emergency room treatment serum blood alcohol test result.
What Is the Judicial Performance Evaluation Program? Insights From a FacilitatorBy Mitchell L. HoffmanBench and Bar, June 2024Under the Illinois Supreme Court program for mandatory judicial evaluation, judges are confidentially evaluated by the attorneys who appear before them and the court staff who serve in their courtrooms
What Is the Judicial Performance Evaluation Program?: Insights From a FacilitatorBy Mitchell L. HoffmanCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, October 2024Under the Illinois Supreme Court program for mandatory judicial evaluation, judges are confidentially evaluated by the attorneys who appear before them and the court staff who serve in their courtrooms
What Is the Judicial Performance Evaluation Program?: Insights from a FacilitatorBy Mitchell L. HoffmanBench and Bar, September 2024Judges, just like the attorneys who practice in their courtrooms, benefit greatly from feedback on how well they’re performing in their jobs. While attorneys typically work closely
with their peers, and likely undergo regular performance reviews in their law firms, this process is more difficult for judges.
What’s New in Secretary of State Restricted Driving Permits?By Ted HarvatinTraffic Laws and Courts, May 2024The number one concern of most DUI clients who are not facing significant time in jail is the impact a DUI will have on their driver’s license and driving privileges.
What’s New in the Law SchoolsBy Leonard F. AmariSenior Lawyers, October 2024A glance at the NextGen Bar Exam, the JD Next Admissions concept, and alternative licensing beyond the traditional bar exam.
