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Former President Donald Trump waves as he departs Trump Tower Wednesday in New York on his way to the New York attorney general’s office for the deposition. – AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson

Trump says he took 5th Amendment in N.Y. investigation

Donald Trump invoked the Fifth Amendment and wouldn’t answer questions under oath in the New York attorney general’s long-running civil investigation into his business dealings, the former president said in a statement Wednesday.
By Michael Balsamo, Michael R. Sisak and Michelle L. Price
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FBI searches Trump estate in major escalation of probe

The FBI searched Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as part of an investigation into whether he took classified records from the White House to his Florida residence, people familiar with the matter said Monday.
By Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo
jones-8-8-22,ph01

Alex Jones’ $49.3M verdict and the future of misinformation

Alex Jones is facing a hefty price tag for his lies about the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre — $49.3 million in damages, and counting, for claiming the nation’s deadliest school shooting was a hoax — a punishing salvo in a fledgling war on harmful misinformation.
By Michael R. Sisak

How I Did It

Steven Levin describes his return to law firm life after a heart attack

Steven M. Levin, founder and senior partner at Levin & Perconti, had a heart attack while golfing last September. While waiting for paramedics to arrive, a 20-year-old caddy performed CPR, which helped to keep him alive.
By Emma Oxnevad

Illinois ban on housing immigrant detainees in state, local facilities upheld

Illinois lawmakers did not overstep their bounds by enacting a statute prohibiting state agencies and local governments from contracting with federal authorities to house foreign nationals being held for purported civil immigration violations, a federal appeals court held.
By Patricia Manson

Justice Dept. seeks to unseal search warrant of Trump home

The Justice Department has asked a court to unseal the warrant the FBI received before searching the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday, acknowledging the extraordinary public interest in the case.
By Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo

Breyer, Gorsuch to promote education about Constitution by nonpartisan group

Recently retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has become the honorary co-chairman of a nonpartisan group devoted to education about the Constitution, joining Justice Neil Gorsuch at a time of intense political polarization and rising skepticism about the court’s independence.
By Mark Sherman

Jury can’t reach verdict in engineers’ Flint water trial

A judge declared a mistrial Thursday after jurors said they couldn’t reach a verdict in a dispute over whether two engineering firms should bear some responsibility for Flint’s lead-contaminated water.
By Ed White

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Contributors

Trial Notebook

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Court holds some civil lawsuits resemble NFL games: Winner does not always have to be declared

In a case where two companies struck out with dueling Lanham Act claims and the district judge ruled there was no “prevailing party,” the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considered whether “civil lawsuits are more like regular or postseason National Football League games. That is, can they end in a tie or must a winner always be named?”
By Steven P. Garmisa

IP News Challenge

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Minimum creativity examined in lawsuit over Katy Perry song

Question: How low is the minimum threshold of creativity for copyright protection?
By Beverly A. Berneman

Racial Justice

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The NAACP defends the right to live, lays foundation for Black Lives Matter

Professor Megan Ming Francis’ book “Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State” is an important contribution for anyone thinking about the quintessential question: how did a marginalized community prompt the federal government to intervene in state criminal court proceedings?
By Judge Ramon Ocasio III

For the Defense

Patrick Eckler-8-10-22,ph01

High court needs to resolve split over nursing home arbitration agreements

It has long been the practice in this space to discuss the grants and denials by the Illinois Supreme Court of petitions for leave to appeal, but here we are going one step further to discuss a case in which a petition will likely to be filed, plus two other issues that need resolution.
By Donald P. Eckler

Opening Statement

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Small Michigan theaters make a great getaway for Chicagoans

So, here we are again — in the middle of a long and hot summer, awaiting the opening of the Chicago theatrical season and I’m looking for something to fill my weekly column.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ will have you clapping hands and stomping feet

As I prepared to review “Priscilla Queen of the Desert,” a musical about three drag queens traveling across Australia, I thought of recent criticism and opposition to LGBTQ issues at a time when the right-leaning Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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Movie puts an electric twist on long-held views of Elvis

As summer drifts on, we have had a couple of pleasant entertainment surprises in recent months outside the live stage.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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‘My Fair Lady’ brings musical bliss to Cadillac Palace

When I started writing this column more than 30 years ago, I had spent a number of years creating political and social satire shows for the Chicago Bar Association. However, I had little experience critiquing live theatrical productions for a daily newspaper.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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‘Life After’ has flickers of Sondheim, if not the lush melodies

When Stephen Sondheim passed away last fall, the world lost one of its greatest composers and lyricists. Sondheim had done it all. He composed music, wrote books and songs — the whole shebang. There were others like him (Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and Cole Porter) but they were few and far between, and not many from the current crop of emerging songwriters could measure up to him.
By Julian J. Frazin
All Contributors

Social Scene

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Jumpstart gives law students a boost

Retired Judge Ann Claire Williams, center, and Tania Luma, left, assistant dean for Loyola School of Law’s Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, pose with Loyola students at the Jumpstart Orientation. Jumpstart elevates law students from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in law school. The program was created by Judge Williams, and the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism serves as program coordinator. Photo credit: Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.
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Cook judges donate school supplies

Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Traffic Division Presiding Judge Diann Marsalek, both at front right, delivered 180 backpacks full of school supplies donated by Cook County judges to the Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative High School for distribution to Juvenile Temporary Detention Center residents as they leave the facility to go to their own neighborhood high schools. With them are, from left, school and JTDC officials Leonard B. Dixon, James Noorlag, Rhonda Ramos, Amaze Jones and Leonard Harris. Photo courtesy Chief Judges’ Office
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CCBA installs president, welcomes Ben Crump

Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville Jr., from left, Natasha E. Jenkins and attorney Benjamin A. Crump attend the Cook County Bar Association installation and awards banquet at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Jenkins was installed as the youngest woman to lead the organization, the CCBA said. Crump, subject of the new Netflix documentary “Civil,” was the keynote speaker at the June 24 event. Photo by Steve Capers
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Romanucci accepts trial bar honor

Antonio M. Romanucci, left, received the American Association for Justice’s Howard Twiggs Award from outgoing AAJ president Navan Ward July 18 in Seattle. The award recognizes an AAJ member whose “courtroom advocacy and distinguished service to AAJ have brought honor to the trial bar and the legal profession.” Romanucci is chair of the AAJ National Finance Council, among other roles with the group. Photo courtesy of Romanucci & Blandin

Special Publications

Salute! Women in Law 2022

Salute! Women in Law 2022

The 3rd class for Salute! Women in Law

Meet the exceptional women in law recognized in our 3rd annual Salute! awards.
40 Under Forty 2021

40 Under Forty 2021

Law Bulletin Media announces the Class of 2021

Success at any age is impressive. But to achieve it at an early age is even more of a feat. Congratulations to 40 Under Forty honorees for 2021.
JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards

JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards

Celebrating 60 years

Over 300 trial attorneys and Illinois judges were in attendance last October as the Jury Verdict Reporter, a division of Law Bulletin Media, hosted its annual reception and awards for Trial Lawyer Excellence. Fifty-four professionals from both sides of the trial bar received individual Trial Lawyer Excellence awards in one of 17 categories. Please click through and enjoy this review of the Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards.

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Photo gallery with Top Stories

Former President Donald Trump waves as he departs Trump Tower Wednesday in New York on his way to the New York attorney general’s office for the deposition.
Aug
10
Wed

Trump says he took 5th Amendment in N.Y. investigation
Armed Secret Service agents stand outside an entrance to former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate late Monday in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump said in a lengthy statement that the FBI was conducting a search of the estate and asserted that agents had broken open a safe.
Aug
09
Tue

FBI searches Trump estate in major escalation of probe
Judge Maya Guerra Gamble speaks with Andino Reynal, left, lawyer for Alex Jones, and Mark Bankston, lawyer for two Sandy Hook parents, at the Travis County Courthouse last week. A Texas jury on Friday ordered Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages, adding to $4.1 million in compensatory damages awarded earlier.
Aug
08
Mon

Alex Jones’ $49.3M verdict and the future of misinformation
Voters applaud during a primary watch party Tuesday in Overland Park, Kansas. Voters in the conservative state rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions on abortion or ban it outright.
Aug
03
Wed

Big primary day brings abortion backlash in Kansas
Author Stephen King arrives at federal court in Washington Tuesday before testifying for the Department of Justice as it bids to block the proposed merger of two of the world's biggest publishers, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. The case is a key test of the Biden administration’s antitrust policy.
Aug
02
Tue

Stephen King testifies for government in books merger trial
State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, center, who was elected chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois Saturday, embraces outgoing chair Robin Kelly, a congresswoman from Matteson. Hernandez was elected unanimously after a contentious effort by Hernandez’s backers, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, to replace Kelly.
Aug
01
Mon

Illinois Democrats seek unity after party chair power struggle