Section Newsletters

Articles on bench & bar

Absolute Immunity – Well, Not Quite By Michael Cortina Bench and Bar, June 2023 The general rule of thumb is that so long as a judge has subject matter jurisdiction over a particular case, that judge was absolutely immune from suit relating to the court’s rulings. But as with most rules, there are exceptions.
Michael G. Bergmann Receive Certificate of Appreciation Bench and Bar, June 2023 The outgoing chair, Michael G. Bergmann, received a certificate of appreciation at the 2023 ISBA Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Kane County Public Defender’s Office Commemorates Gideon v. Wainwright Anniversary Bench and Bar, April 2023 The Kane County Public Defender’s Office commemorated the 60th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright with a luncheon and a celebration of the work done by public defenders.
Duty or Not…That Is the Question By Albert E. Durkin, Florina Bandula, & Lee Smith, III Bench and Bar, February 2023 Slanger v. Advanced Urgent Care, et. al. is a reminder that “duty of care” is not as cut and dried as tort law professors teach students in law school.
Illinois Supreme Court History: Women and Juries By John A. Lupton Bench and Bar, February 2023 An overview of how women won the right to serve on juries.
Recent Appointments and Retirements Bench and Bar, February 2023 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.
Lend Me Your Ears: Shakespearean ‘Will-Power’ to Improve Oral Advocacy By Ashleigh A. Stochel Bench and Bar, December 2022 Proper delivery of an argument can be taught and learned.
Recent Appointments and Retirements Bench and Bar, December 2022 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.
Attorney Sanctioned Over Emails to Judge and Others; First Amendment Defense Fails By Pamela Sakowicz Menaker Bench and Bar, October 2022 An Illinois action before the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission pits an attorney’s First Amendment rights against allowable speech in emails commenting on a judge and her actions in a pending case.
Choosing the Chief By John A. Lupton Bench and Bar, October 2022 Unlike the Supreme Court of the United States, Illinois is one of 23 states in which its supreme court chooses who will be the chief justice.
Chronological List of Chief Justices Bench and Bar, October 2022 A comprehensive list of Illinois Supreme Court justices.
Justice Anne Burke Retiring By Hon. Alfred Swanson, (ret.) Bench and Bar, October 2022 A look at Chief Justice Anne Burke's tenure on the Illinois Supreme Court.
Meet the New Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, (ret.) Bench and Bar, October 2022 When Justice Mary Jane Theis becomes the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, she has three main goals in mind.
Probate Challenges Extend Beyond the Pond By Judge Michael Chmiel Bench and Bar, October 2022 An overview of the lecture delivered by Justice Mariusz Załucki of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Poland.
Civility: A Duty Owed by All Lawyers By Valerie Brummel Bench and Bar, August 2022 Global pandemic, or not, lawyers have an obligation to treat one another with civility and courtesy.
Title IX—7 Questions to Celebrate 37 Words By Olivia Duggins Bench and Bar, August 2022 A Q-&-A with Judge Debra Walker about the impact of Title IX.
Oaths of Office Taken by Judge Elizabeth K. Flood and Judge Bianca Camargo By Sandra M. Blake Diversity Leadership Council, June 2022 Diversity and inclusion have become watchwords for the legal profession, and in Kane County, they serve as more than aspirations. The December 10 swearing-in ceremony and reception honoring Judge Bianca Camargo and Judge Elizabeth K. Flood reminded all present of the strides being made.
Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Swearing-In Ceremony Address By Hon. Elizabeth K. Flood Diversity Leadership Council, June 2022 Hon. Elizabeth K. Flood's remarks from the December 10, 2021, swearing-in ceremony.
Hon. Elizabeth K. Flood Circuit Judge Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Swearing-In Ceremony Address Delivered Dec. 10, 2021 By Hon. Elizabeth K. Flood Bench and Bar, May 2022 Hon. Elizabeth K. Flood's remarks from the December 10, 2021, swearing-in ceremony.
Oaths of Office Taken by Judge Elizabeth K. Flood and Judge Bianca Camargo: From the Swearing-in Ceremony and Reception for Judge Elizabeth K. Flood and Judge Bianca Camargo By Sandra Blake Bench and Bar, May 2022 Diversity and inclusion have become watchwords for the legal profession, and in Kane County, they serve as more than aspirations. The December 10 swearing-in ceremony and reception honoring Judge Bianca Camargo and Judge Elizabeth K. Flood reminded all present of the strides being made.
The State of the Illinois Courts: What Is Happening in and Around Illinois Courtrooms (Despite the Pandemic) By Chief Justice Anne M. Burke Bench and Bar, May 2022 Remarks delivered by Chief Justice Anne M. Burke at the ISBA Bench and Bar Section & ILC Commission on Professionalism CLE presentation on March 8, 2022.
A Conversation With Jayne Reardon, Retiring Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism By Judge Debra Walker Bench and Bar, March 2022 An interview about the future of the legal profession with Jayne Reardon, executive director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.
Keys to Increasing Your Prospects for Success in Mediation: Insights from Chief Circuit Mediator for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit By Edward Casmere Bench and Bar, March 2022 Highlights from a conversation with Joel Shapiro, chief circuit mediator for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Ethical Practices in the Email Age: Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2 and ‘Reply All’ Emails By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Elder Law, January 2022 As more and more legal communications are via email rather than carefully proofread letters, new ethical minefields are being discovered.
Illinois Supreme Court Lifts Its Pause Order Regarding Judicial Redistricting By Edward Casmere Bench and Bar, January 2022 In a summer move that caught many off guard, Illinois legislators passed Public Act 102-0011, changing the boundaries of the Illinois appellate court districts for the first time in over 55 years.
‘Are We Our Brother’s Keeper?’—Part 1: Incarceration, Supervision, and Crime in the United States By Elizabeth Bleakley Bench and Bar, November 2021 An overview of incarceration and other correctional supervision in the United States.
Ethical Practices in the Email Age: Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2 and ‘Reply All’ Emails By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Civil Practice and Procedure, November 2021 As more and more legal communications are via email rather than carefully proofread letters, new ethical minefields are being discovered.
Ethical Practices in the Email Age: Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2 and ‘Reply All’ Emails By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Bench and Bar, September 2021 As more and more legal communications are via email rather than carefully proofread letters, new ethical minefields are being discovered.
Impact of Daimler on Creditor’s Rights By Michael Cortina Bench and Bar, September 2021 A summary of the unintended consequences of Daimler AG v. Bauman, with a particular focus on its impact on the area of creditors’ rights in Illinois.
Justices Denied? Impact of the Judicial Districts Act on Incumbent Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court By Steven F. Pflaum & Andrew T. Hamilton Bench and Bar, September 2021 An overview of the Judicial Districts Act of 2021 and analysis of the constitutionality of its retention provisions.

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