Kathryn Carso Liss
For the first time in Chicago Bar Association memory, an individual section of the sizeable bar group is adding its own take on Law Day festivities.
Throughout the week, the Young Lawyers’ Section will host Law Week under the banner of “The 14th Amendment: Protecting Our Children, the Future of Democracy.”
This year’s YLS Chair Kathryn Carso Liss of the Law Offices of Jean Conde P.C. chose “Protecting Our Children” as the theme for the section’s programming throughout its 2016-17 year.
YLS hosted Continuing Legal Education events, fundraising campaigns and awareness campaigns around child human trafficking throughout January this year.
Events this week will focus on how the constitutional rights to due process and equal protection specifically apply to minors.
Liss and CBA Executive Director Terry Murphy said the additional focus to the Law Day theme has led to an increase in interest in the week’s programs.
“Especially with Law Week, we’ve seen an increase in volunteers for, for example, helping out with Legal Prep Charter School,” Liss said.
As far as Murphy — who’s been with the organization for more than 40 years — knows, this is the first time the CBA has expanded the ABA’s theme with an additional focus, but it may set a precedent for years to come.
“I hope it becomes a regular part of our Law Week programming, because it is important and it embraces more volunteers and more members and more groups in the community that have an interest,” Murphy said. “And collectively we can do a whole lot better than individually.”
The week started today with a celebration open to the public with remarks scheduled from a representative of the nonprofit Lydia Home Association and from Cook County Circuit Judge Grace G. Dickler, presiding judge of the court’s Domestic Relations Division. There was also a “Lunch with a Judge” in Circuit Judge Raul Vega’s Daley Center courtroom.
On Tuesday, YLS will host a CLE session at the CBA headquarters on how the 14th Amendment can be used to protect children in court, especially children in the child-welfare system.
Wednesday morning, CBA and YLS volunteers will visit Eberhart Elementary School in Chicago Lawn to teach middle school students about the 14th Amendment.
That afternoon, the CBA will host a reception that will include a meet-and-greet session with state and federal judges. It will present its Liberty Bell Award to a non-lawyer who has promoted individual rights. This year’s honoree is Elena Caloca-Norman, an interpreter with the Cook County Circuit Court for more than 30 years, who’s served on the state judiciary’s Language Access Committee.
Thursday evening, the CBA will host a workshop where YLS’ Criminal Law Committee teaches Legal Prep Charter students and mentors about their rights and how to invoke them in real-life scenarios.
Finally, Friday at noon, the CBA will host a CLE session on the continued quest for equality post-Brown v. Board of Education.
Throughout the week, the group is hosting two programs to benefit local children’s nonprofits. One is a drive for blankets, backpacks and suitcases for foster children to donate through the Lydia Home Association.
Liss said foster children often don’t have anything other than garbage bags to carry their belongings in as they move from house to house.
The other is a fundraiser of $5 pinwheels to benefit Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, which provides education, support for local initiatives and policy advocacy.
The pinwheels will be on display at the Daley Center Monday and will move to the CBA lobby for the rest of the month.