Section Newsletters

Articles From 2006

International delegation of judges, lawyers, professors and government officials visited Chicago By Violeta I. Balan International and Immigration Law, March 2006 An international delegation of judges and many distinguished lawyers, professors and government officials from around the world visited Chicago on January 18-20, 2006.
Interpreting “prior obligations” under Section 505 By Matthew G. Shaw Family Law, August 2006 Years ago during the child support court call, the obligor explained to the judge that his support should not be based upon 20 percent of his net income because he had other children to support.
Introduction to OBRA ’93 Self-settled Special Needs Trusts By Heather McPherson Elder Law, May 2006 Self-settled Special Needs Trusts are an important tool to use to qualify an individual for public benefits such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or subsidized housing when he could not otherwise qualify for these benefits because his assets exceed certain threshold limits.
Investor-State disputes By Mark E. Wojcik International and Immigration Law, August 2006 Investors have choices. They can put their money into businesses in their home countries, or they can invest abroad.
Irene F. Bahr, ISBA President Elect Women and the Law, June 2006 The Woman and the Law Committee is proud that one of its founding members, and a strong supporter of women in the legal profession, Irene F. Bahr, will be installed on June 16, 2006, as the 130th president of the Illinois State Bar Association, and only the third woman to hold this position.
IRS issues proposed regulations on employer-comparable contributions to HSAs By Sharon R. Cohen Corporate Law Departments, February 2006 The IRS has proposed the first regulations on health savings accounts, which generally follow the comparability guidance issued in previous notices.
IRS revises Form 706 Agricultural Law, November 2006 With thanks to a long time contributor and former Chairman, Paul Meints, we learn of recent action by the Internal Revenue Service that may have an impact on those of us who do estate planning, probate or tax work. —jmollet
Is it possible to file a 19(h) petition more than 30 months after a final award? By Richard D. Hannigan Workers’ Compensation Law, June 2006 The answer is: It depends. In Kenneth W. Behe v. Industrial Commission, 2006 WL 1382058 2nd District May 5, 2006 the Appellate Court discusses the issue of how many 19(h) Petitions can be filed.
Is/Isn’t Trademark Infringement—Internet search engine keyword advertising By Eric Goldman Intellectual Property, June 2006 In late March, the legality of the search engine keyword advertising industry got very murky due to two inconsistent rulings within the span of 10 days.
ISBA newsletter authors can receive CLE program discounts Human and Civil Rights, April 2006 The ISBA announces its new newsletter article authors CLE discount program.
ISBA newsletter authors can receive CLE program discounts Agricultural Law, January 2006 The ISBA announces its new newsletter article authors CLE discount program. Program rules provide that during the 2005-2006 publishing year, the author of a published substantive ISBA newsletter article of at least 500 words can receive a non-transferable discount certificate redeemable for a 20 percent discount off the tuition for an ISBA-sponsored CLE program of their choice with a limit of five such discount certificates for the publishing year.
ISBA/YLD 2nd Annual Golf Classic By Gina M. Arquilla Young Lawyers Division, August 2006 We are proud to report that the ISBA/YLD 2nd Annual Golf Classic was a huge success.
Job evaluations and personnel files under the Freedom of Information Act By Phillip B. Lenzini Government Lawyers, April 2006 All public employees should appreciate the decision in Copley.
Job evaluations and personnel files under the Freedom of Information Act By Phillip B. Lenzini Local Government Law, March 2006 All public employees should appreciate the decision in Copley Press.
Judicial Observation: Caution on the Relaxed Rules of Evidence By Hon. Michael J. Chmiel Child Law, September 2006 The Juvenile Court Act of 1987, 705 ILCS 405/1-1 et seq. [hereinafter Act], is unique among the acts of the Illinois General Assembly in ways other than just those pertaining to substance – the treatment of juveniles.
Judicial Profile: Chief Judge James F. Holderman of the Northern District of Illinois By Devlin J. Schoop Federal Civil Practice, December 2006 On February 25, 1985, President Ronald Reagan nominated James F. Holderman to serve as a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
Judicial Profile: Hon. Virginia M. Kendall of the Northern District of Illinois Federal Civil Practice, September 2006 Judge Virginia M. Kendall is the newest appointed Article III district judge in the Northern District of Illinois. She was nominated by President Bush on September 28, 2005 with the bipartisan support of U.S. Senators Richard Durbin and Barack Obama.
Judicial Profile: Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan Federal Civil Practice, September 2006 Once you speak with Judge Sam Der-Yeghiayan for a few minutes, you realize how hard work (and a little luck) can make dreams come true.
Judicial Profile: Michael P. McCuskey, Chief Judge of the Central District of Illinois Federal Civil Practice, September 2006 Michael P. McCuskey has had a distinguished career in the law, having served the Central Illinois area as both a lawyer and judge since 1975.
Jury selection: Selling your case By James A. Hansen Civil Practice and Procedure, June 2006 The work of any good trial lawyer starts with selling his or her case to a prospective jury panel.
The jury system: Evolution of revolution By Robert E. Wells, Jr. Alternative Dispute Resolution, April 2006 The jury system is under attack in Congress, in the Illinois Legislature, and in the press. Much of the criticism focuses on the perception of “run-away jury verdicts.”
Jury trial innovations: 7th Circuit project By William J. Brinkmann Federal Civil Practice, September 2006 The Seventh Circuit Bar Association has recently completed testing throughout the Seventh Circuit District Courts of seven concepts designed to improve civil jury trials.
Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow announces her retirement Women and the Law, June 2006 The recipient of numerous awards, including the Glass Ceiling Buster Award from the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers and the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow has served as a shining example and mentor to women attorneys throughout her magnificent legal career.
Justice McMorrow has announced her retirement Bench and Bar, April 2006 After more than 13 years as a Justice of the Supreme Court, former Chief Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow will retire effective July 5, 2006.
Kathryn Zenoff: First Woman Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Circuit By Susan M. Brazas Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, January 2006 A graduate of the Columbia University School of Law, also an honors graduate of Stanford University, walked into a midtown Manhattan law office seeking work.
Key provisions of HR 4: Pension Protection Act of 2006 By Sal L. Tripodi & Teresa T. Bloom Employee Benefits, September 2006 On August 3, 2006, the Senate passed HR 4, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, by a vote of 93 to 5.
Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor By Caitlyn McEvoy International and Immigration Law, September 2006 A new addition to the Law Library of Congress is the Global Legal Monitor. Available as a PDF document, the Global Legal Monitor can be found at http://www.loc.gov/law/public/reports/GLM.pdf  or by clicking the Global Legal Monitor link displayed on the Law Library of Congress main page.
Law office management 101—Setting up your practice By Mary A. Corrigan Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, September 2006 As a business attorney, I routinely advise clients on a variety of issues related to the start-up of their businesses.
The Law Student Division Committee – Who we are, what we do and where we are going By Robert Fink Young Lawyers Division, October 2006 The Law Student Division Committee is comprised of several law students from each member law school.
The lawyer as peacemaker and healer By Sandra Crawford Women and the Law, January 2006 As we in the western hemisphere in winter in recognition of the season of lights, peace and brotherly love, it seems appropriate to explore the role of the lawyer as peacemaker and healer and give thanks for the opportunity the practice of law gives each of us to “bring peace into room.”