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Asked and Answered  By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am the firm administrator for a 25-attorney firm in Baltimore, Md. We have 14 partners, nine of whom are in their 60s. We have no succession or transition plans in place for senior partners. Every time I bring up the topic there is resistance to even discuss it. I would appreciate any help that you can provide.

The Cook County Circuit Court on June 20 issued an order finding that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) cannot prosecute Illinois property tax attorneys on charges they offered appraisal services without a proper state license when they argue valuations before tax assessment appeal tribunals. The deadline for the state to file an appeal was July 20. No appeal was filed.

The Illinois Supreme Court interprets its supervisory authority broadly and holds that it is “unlimited in extent and hampered by no specific rules or means for its exercise.” Yet, historically, the court has used its supervisory powers only regarding issues brought to the court’s attention in petitions for leave to appeal (“PLAs”) where the court can order relief without full briefing, oral argument, or issuance of an opinion.  But recently, the court has been willing to exercise its supervisory power outside of the traditional context of PLAs. Examples include removing a judge for alleged judicial bias and misconduct, reinstating a summary judgment order vacated by the trial court on an improper basis, and ordering the appellate court to vacate an injunction.