2020 Articles

$5.2 Million Dollar Verdict Awarded in Civil Rights Case By Ronald S. Langacker March 2020 A summary of Wrice v. Byrne, in which the jury awarded awarded $4 million in general damages against the city of Chicago, and $600,000 each in punitive damages against two police officers involved.

Boosting Immunity By Dan Breen June 2020 Actionable advice for staying healthy during COVID-19.

Boosting Wellness and Managing Stress During Quarantine By Erin Clifford, E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., & Michael B. Hyman June 2020 Wellness and stress management tips during COVID-19.

COVID-19, Jails, and Ending Cash Bail By Junaid M. Afeef June 2020 COVID-19 is shining a light on the plight of detainees resulting from a cash bail system.

From the Chair By Michael J. Maslanka March 2020 An update on the accomplishments of the Human Rights Section Council from the chair, Michael J. Maslanka.

Human Rights Section Chair Appointed to Guardianship and Advocacy Commission By Ronald S. Langacker March 2020 Kathryn Eisenhart, past chair of the Human RIghts Section Council, was recently appointed by Governor Pritzker to be a member of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.

The Illinois Bar Foundation Needs Your Help By Rory T. Weiler November 2020 The Illinois Bar Foundation, which assists fellow lawyers who have fallen upon hard times, has acted quickly to address the economic crisis that has resulted from COVID-19.

Illinois Department of Human Rights Releases Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Program By Bhavani Raveendran June 2020 On April 28, 2020, the Illinois Department of Human Rights released its Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Program in compliance with the Workplace Transparency Act.

Northern District of Illinois Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer Appoints Diversity Committee By Glenn Gaffney September 2020 Chief Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer has appointed various individuals to a newly-formed racial justice and diversity committee.

Northern District of Illinois: State of the Court During the Pandemic By Glenn Gaffney September 2020 A look at how the Northern District of Illinois courts are operating during COVID-19.

Summary of Recent Legislative Changes to the Illinois Human Rights Act and More By Glenn Gaffney March 2020 The Illinois General Assembly recently passed numerous legislative amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act, signed into law by Governor Pritzker.

Supporting the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Lincoln Legacy Society By Hon. Edward J. Schoenbaum, (ret.) November 2020 The Lincoln Legacy Society is the Planned Giving Program of the Illinois Bar Foundation, supporting the Foundation’s mission to administer access to justice programs throughout Illinois and offer financial aid to attorneys and their families during times of crisis.

U.S. District Court Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month By Glenn Gaffney September 2020 In May, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage month in recognition to the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the law and the legal profession.

When Our Neighbors Aren’t So Neighborly By Heidi Ramos September 2020 A look at how LGBTQ protections in Illinois compare with those in other states.