Chicago Area

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(4) was amended to allow a good cause exemption to e-filing for self-represented litigants (SRL). The rule change is effective immediately for proceedings in the supreme court and appellate courts. For proceedings in the circuit courts, the amended rule is effective on Jan. 1, 2018.

The amended rule defines the good cause exemption, which must be shown by certification and filed with the court before or with an initial pleading, that exempts SRLs from the e-filing requirement. It also specifies the procedures that must be followed to properly obtain the exemption.

The rule change comes less than three weeks before electronic filing in civil cases will be mandatory across Illinois, and reflects the Illinois Supreme Court's commitment to ensuring access to justice for everyone, including vulnerable SRLs.

Under the amended rule, good cause exists where a self-represented litigant is not able to e-file documents for the following reasons:

• No computer or Internet access in the home and travel represents a hardship 
• A disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, that prevents e-filing
• A language barrier or low literacy (difficulty reading, writing, or speaking in English)
• If the pleading is of a sensitive nature, such as a petition for an order of protection or civil no contact/stalking order

Judges retain discretion to determine whether good cause is shown, or if, under particular circumstances, good cause exists without the filing of a certificate.

The 2017 Midyear Meeting was held last week, Dec. 7-9, 2017, at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago. Attendees celebrated the profession, discussed issues of mutual interest to the bench and bar, attended business meetings, earned CLE credit, and expanded their social and professional networks at receptions and dinners. During section meetings and at the Assembly meeting, various members of the ISBA community were recognized with awards. 

The photo galleries containing highlights from this year's Midyear Meeting are now available and listed below:

Opening Ceremony

YLD 20th Annual Holiday Party

ISBA/IJA Joint Meeting Luncheon

Law School Alumni Receptions

Diversity Leadership Council "Count Me In" Reception

Illinois Supreme Court Cocktail Reception

Illinois Supreme Court Dinner

Chase M. Hundman recently joined the Howard & Howard Associates, LLC Chicago office as a new associate.

Chase M. Hundman concentrates his practice in commercial litigation. He began his career with Howard & Howard as a summer associate in 2016. Prior to joining as a full-time associate, he was a judicial extern for Judge Jon DeGuilio at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. There, he drafted opinions and orders for the judge and attended court proceedings to advise on pertinent legal issues.

Mr. Hundman received his B.A., cum laude, from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2014 and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2017. He is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois.

Don’t miss this full-day mock demonstration based on an actual multi-party construction case mediation! Watch and listen as seasoned lawyers demonstrate a construction case from the pre-mediation stage to the settlement agreement and learn which methods and techniques are most useful in a construction mediation case. Attorneys with basic or intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar on January 12, 2018 – either in Chicago or via Live Webcast – will better understand: the procedures, methods, and techniques common to all mediations; the unique problems and issues in a construction case mediation; the issues that you need to be prepared to deal with during the pre-mediation conference; how to handle the pre-mediation position paper; the issues that you should expect to arise in a group opening session; how the parties should interact during the breakout session for an effective mediation; how to deal with the Settlement Agreement in concluding the mediation; how to manage the ethical issues that can arise during the confidential process of mediation; and much more!

The program is presented by the ISBA Construction Law Section and co-sponsored by the ISBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. It qualifies for 7.25 hours MCLE credit, including 7.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Get more information and register on our CLE page.