The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Practice News

  • September 24, 2024 | Practice News
    Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission Receives Donation for Historic Clarence Darrow Case

    The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission received a donation of a 26-page typed transcription of Clarence Darrow’s passionate argument to save his 17-year-old client Russell McWilliams from the electric chair. After three sentencing hearings and two appearances before the Illinois Supreme Court, McWilliams narrowly escaped becoming the only minor executed in Illinois. 

  • September 23, 2024 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Disbars 7, Suspends 10 in Latest Disciplinary Filing

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on September 23, 2024. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

  • September 23, 2024 | Practice News
    The Value of a Life

     Wrongful-death lawsuits in Illinois often involve federal and state law causes of actions. Because of this, courts often wrestle with difficult determinations at trial regarding what sort of evidence is admissible concerning a decedent’s life. In their September Illinois Bar Journal article, “The Value of a Life,” Christian Ketter and Jason Rose explain why attorneys for plaintiffs often argue that most unfavorable evidence about a decedent’s life is inadmissible.

  • September 19, 2024 | Practice News
    Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinions Issued Thursday, September 19, 2024

    Leading appellate attorneys review the Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Thursday, September 19.

  • September 19, 2024 | Practice News
    Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts Receives Nearly $3 Million Mental Health Grant Award

    The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) is pleased to announce approval of a competitive grant award from the Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services. The grant project titled “Assisted Outpatient Treatment: A Pathway to Community Care” allocates up to $2,915,393 over 4 years. 

    1 comment (Most recent September 19, 2024)
  • September 18, 2024 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Justice Amy Lannerd to Fourth District Appellate Court

    Justice Lisa Holder White and the Supreme Court of Illinois have announced that Justice Amy Lannerd has been appointed as an Appellate Court Justice in the Fourth District. 

    Justice Lannerd is being appointed to fill the vacancy originally created by the decision of Justice John W. Turner to not seek retention. Her appointment is effective immediately. Justice Lannerd is running unopposed for the seat in the November 2024 election. 

  • September 18, 2024 | Practice News
    Spotlight on Pro Bono: Celebrate Pro Bono Across Illinois on October 20-26, 2024

    By Michael G. Bermann, Executive Director of the Public Interest Law Initiative

  • September 17, 2024 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission to Receive Justice Innovation Award

    The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) will be honored with the Justice Innovation Award by the Law Center for Better Housing (LCBH) at Bringing Justice Home on October 17th at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago. 

    The ATJ Commission was chosen as the award’s recipient for its use of technology-driven solutions to enhance access to legal information as achieved through its standardized, plain language forms project. Standardized forms are developed by the ATJ Commission’s Forms Committee and its 13 drafting subcommittees. 

  • September 16, 2024 | Practice News
    Adults With Disabilities Have Sex

     Of course, adults with disabilities have sex. A 70-year-old in a nursing home wants to feel young again. A newly turned 18-year-old wants to be an average young adult. A 30-year-old with a spouse dreams of starting a family.

  • September 9, 2024 | Practice News
    Fool Me Once

     During the ISBA’s Member Appreciation Month this past May, we asked members of the ISBA to recount for us the one mistake they made as an attorney that they’ll never make again. Responses poured in and ranged from utter fiascoes to one’s pride being taken down a peg or two. We were pleased also with everyone’s candor; humility; good humor; and appreciation that in the law, as in life, we often learn most from our mistakes.