2014 Articles

‘Adequately’ representing children’s best interests: Expanding the toolbox By Mark Simons June 2014 A review of several cases reveals that what is important is not the type of representation the child has, but the adequacy of that representation.

Case highlight: In re Raheem M., No. 4-13-0585 By Betsy Clarke February 2014 This recent opinion reversed a commitment to IDJJ by a Vermilion County judge on the basis of the judge’s failure to actively seek evidence that commitment was the least restrictive alternative.

Case summaries By Grunyk and Associates, P.C. October 2014 Recent cases of interest to child law practitioners.

Case summaries By Danya A. Grunyk June 2014 Recent cases of interest to child law practitioners.

Child support, daycare, extracurricular activities, uninsured medical expenses By Michael Strauss February 2014 In Carlson-Urbanczyk, the Third District Appellate Court held that the ordering of the extra items has to be supported by the record and constitutes a deviation upward from the percentage child support.

Child’s wishes under the IMDMA By Jon D. McLaughlin February 2014 While a court should consider the preferences of the child in awarding custody, a court is not bound by that preference.

Disney World or financial assistance? Leveling the financial playing field in the best interests of children By Michael Strauss October 2014 A reading of 750 ILCS 5/505 appears to show that both parents can be ordered to financially support the child, but does that include actual child support from the custodial parent to the noncustodial parent?

Exclusive possession under the IMDMA and IDVA By Jon D. McLaughlin February 2014 The two statutes that a party may proceed under, the IMDMA and the IDVA, hold parties to different standards, and it may turn out that you are using the wrong statute for some of your cases.

The legal rights of spanish-speaking families: Policy recommendations for a linguistic and culturally competent Illinois child welfare system By Denise I. Martinez June 2014 In the last decade alone, Latinos in Illinois accounted for more than 32.5% of the total increase in the State’s population. Now is the time to build a competent child welfare system that will protect the most vulnerable Latino children in this state.

More than 30 years of poor outcomes and racial disparities in “automatic” provisions trying youth in adult court By Elizabeth Clarke October 2014 Of the 257 Cook County children charged with crimes requiring an automatic transfer to adult court in a recent three-year study period, only one was white. Read the study's other findings here.

New Juvenile Delinquency Handbook: A resource for attorneys and clients alike By Bridget L. Schott October 2014 In response to the many recent changes to the Juvenile Court Act and laws regarding juveniles, the ISBA Child Law Section Council has released an updated Juvenile Delinquency Handbook.

UCCJEA: Understanding the basics By Tony Vechiola & Mike Hudzik June 2014 A highlight of the key provisions of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act.