2024 Articles

AI and Law: An Opportunity to Improve Legal Practice By Damien Riehl April 2024 Recent exponential leaps in advanced large language models have presented both opportunities and challenges that have the capacity to reshape the legal landscape.

Become an Illinois Bar Foundation Champion By Jessica R. Durkin December 2024 At least twice a year at ISBA Annual and Midyear Meetings, we are pitched by colleagues and the Illinois Bar Foundation to become a “Champion.” But what is a Champion really, and what’s in it for us?

Building a Better Tomorrow: Discussing & Dismantling Barriers Faced by Women of Color in the Legal Profession By Akanksha Balekai September 2024 For the first time in history, the majority of associates at major law firms are women. While this undoubtedly signals progress in the legal profession, much remains to be desired for women of color.

Child Law Section Council Establishes Subcommittee on Guardian Ad Litem Best Practices February 2024 An announcement of the creation of the ISBA Child Law Section Council's GAL Best Practices Subcommittee.

If Tomorrow Never Comes …. (A message to my judicial colleagues) By Hon. April Troemper September 2024 LIFE IS A GIFT. Each of us was born in this moment in time … not a hundred years ago, but now. Who we encounter, what we do, where we go, what we say, how we treat others professionally and personally … it all matters.

Illinois Supreme Court Decision in People v. Wells: ‘A Deal’s a Deal’ By Hon. John J. O’Gara June 2024 In People v. Wells, the Illinois Supreme Court issued guidance on how to ensure proper sentence credit for the accused.

ISBA Child Law Section Council Guardian Ad Litem Best Practices Subcommittee Mission Statement February 2024 The mission statement for the Child Law Section Council's new subcommittee.

Judge Troemper Receives Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership June 2024 Incoming Bench & Bar Section Council chair, Edward Casmere, presented outgoing chair, Judge April Troemper, with a certificate of appreciation for her outstanding service and leadership at the 2024 ISBA Annual Meeting in St. Louis.

Justice Is in the Doing By Justice Michael B. Hyman December 2024 A discouraged lawyer receives a visit from a special ghost of presidents past.

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Navigating the Future of Commercial Litigation: Top Five Trends to Watch in 2025 By Hon. Michael J. Chmiel December 2024 As we approach 2025, the landscape of commercial litigation continues to evolve, influenced by technological advancements, shifting regulatory frameworks, and changing business practices. For attorneys practicing in the commercial banking, collections, and bankruptcy sectors, staying abreast of these trends is crucial for effective representation and strategic planning. This article explores five of the hottest topics in commercial litigation that are likely to shape the field in the coming years.

New Rule: Service of Process in Cook County By Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. & Robert G. Markoff October 2024 A new law recently signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker now allows licensed private detectives and their employees to serve process in Cook County without court appointment. The new law is effective as of January 1, 2025.

Notebook LM: A Powerful and Useful Tool By Hon. Michael J. Chmiel December 2024 Notebook LM enables users to generate things like summaries and podcasts through downloads.

On the Importance of Professionalism By Edward Casmere June 2024 A note from the incoming chair on the importance of professionalism.

Over 600 Years of Wisdom By Laura A. Josephson-Bernat, J.D., MBA October 2024 Judges and lawyers share professional and personal advice that they wish they had learned earlier in their careers.

The Pandemic’s Indelible Mark By Hon. Jasmine V. Hernandez, Mackenzie Ryndak, & Hon. E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. February 2024 Judges and attorneys in the academic sector share how the pandemic has impacted their work.

Recent Appointments and Retirements December 2024 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.

Recent Appointments and Retirements October 2024 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.

Recent Appointments and Retirements September 2024 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.

Recent Appointments and Retirements June 2024 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.

Recent Appointments and Retirements April 2024 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.

Recent Appointments and Retirements February 2024 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.

Rule 277 and Personal Jurisdiction By Michael Cortina April 2024 An analysis of why Illinois Supreme Court Rule 277 — the rule pertaining to supplementary proceedings — does not grant courts personal jurisdiction over out-of-state entities.

Striking a Balance Between Justice and Impartiality By Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. October 2024 As legal professionals, we bear an ethical responsibility to enhance access to justice by mitigating the barriers that disproportionately burden SRLs. Their presence in our judicial system is a given; the pressing question is how best to support and assist them.

A Tale of Two Licenses By Michael G. Cortina September 2024 “No person shall be eligible to be a Judge or Associate Judge unless he is a United States citizen, a licensed attorney-at-law of [Illinois], and a resident of the unit which selects him.”

What Is the Judicial Performance Evaluation Program? Insights From a Facilitator By Mitchell L. Hoffman June 2024 Under 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 Facilitator By Mitchell L. Hoffman September 2024 Judges, 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.