Swearing In 1-15-21,ph01 — Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman swears in new attorneys to the Illinois bar in a short virtual ceremony on Thursday from the courthouse in Springfield. – Blue Room Stream screenshot/Illinois Supreme Court

High court swears in 1,590 new attorneys

Congratulating them for “weathering the storm,” Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman swore 1,590 new attorneys to the Illinois bar in a virtual ceremony Thursday.

By Jessie M. Molloy

Illinois House names Welch speaker

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House on Wednesday elected its first Black speaker to replace the longest-serving legislative leader in modern U.S. history, picking Democratic Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch for the job and pushing aside Michael J. Madigan after he was implicated in an ongoing bribery investigation.

By John O’Connor

Unclear who presides at Trump trial if he’s out of office

WASHINGTON — The Constitution says the chief justice is to preside at the impeachment trial of a president. But what about an ex-president?

By Mark Sherman

Attendants’ suit over grounded jets tossed

Flight attendants who maintain they lost income as a result of the grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft do not have a case against the plane-manufacturing giant, a federal judge held.

By Patricia Manson

High court highlights: The January docket

The Illinois Supreme Court returns for its January 2021 term this week, with two new justices but a now-familiar pandemic.

By Marc Karlinsky

After excusing violence, Trump acknowledges Biden transition

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump for the first time acknowledged his defeat in the Nov. 3 election and announced there would be an “orderly transition on January 20th” after Congress concluded the electoral vote count early Thursday certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

By Zeke Miller and Jill Colvin

Bill adds 9% prejudgment interest to injury suits

Around 3 a.m. Wednesday, Illinois lawmakers passed a bill that will add prejudgment interest to personal injury lawsuits.

By Marc Karlinsky

VA officer gets new chance to pursue bias case

A federal appeals court revived a lawsuit filed by a police officer who alleges he was the target of discrimination and retaliation at a veteran’s hospital.

By Patricia Manson

Search process is open for Cook Co. public defender

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is accepting nominations for the position of Cook County public defender — though the incumbent is seeking a new term.

By Marc Karlinsky

No ADA protection where doctor ordered extended leave

An Indiana woman on a doctor-ordered extended leave is not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal appeals panel ruled.

By Jessie M. Molloy

CDLB People

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP announced that Leah G. Beitner has been named a partner of the firm’s Chicago office.

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP announced that Mark S. Eisen has been named a partner of the firm’s Chicago office.

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP announced that Jason W. Griffith has been named a partner of the firm’s Chicago office.

In the News

Insurer dodges millions in post-judgment interest

Three years after Marc and Deborah Jacobs received a $26 million judgment against Yellow Cab Affiliation and Cornelius Ezeagu, the tab for post-judgment interest under Section 2-1303 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure topped $6 million. Stymied because Yellow Cab and Ezeagu had only $350,000 in coverage from American Country Insurance Co., and both defendants wound up in bankruptcy court, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs tried to hold American Country liable for the post-judgment interest based on Section 2-1303 and a promise in the policy’s supplemental-payments provision.

By Steven P. Garmisa

Industrial property continues to grow despite economic downturns

Industrial property is one of the few segments of the real estate market that has improved despite other recent downturns in the economy. Without fully understanding the strength of the industrial segment, as it is not an area in which I have much of a connection, I reached out to longtime commercial real estate broker and recovering attorney, David Liebman, SIOR, JD, for insights.

By Erica Minchella

SAFE unit case resurfaces in appeals court

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman (joined by Justice Thomas L. Kilbride) dissented in People v. Ringland, 2017 IL 119484 as follows: “The majority opinion restricts the State’s Attorney’s duty to investigate suspected illegal activity to situations in which ‘other law enforcement agencies inadequately deal with such investigation [citation] or where a law enforcement agency asks the State’s Attorney for assistance.’ Supra Para. 25. There is no support for this restrictive interpretation of the state’s attorney’s duties in our common law or the Counties Code.”

By David J. Robinson

More standing, more BIPA

Consequentialist arguments are not usually nearly as persuasive to most people under most circumstances as those arguments grounded in principle. In the law, when the two converge though and combined with constitutional arguments, there is likely to be a powerful and compelling position.

By Donald P. Eckler

Film adaptation of ‘Ma Rainey’s’ captures incredible spirit of play

The year 2020, seemingly one of the longest, most catastrophic in our country’s history is finally grinding to an end even as the pandemic and economic crises rage on. The nation’s racial injustices are still unresolved while a petulant president is still unwillingly to accept his election loss and commit to an uncontroverted and peaceful transfer of administration.

By Julian J. Frazin

Vaughan takes 5th District Appellate Court seat oath

Illinois Supreme Court Justice David K. Overstreet (right) administers the oath of office to 5th District Appellate Court Justice Barry L. Vaughan on Jan. 4. Vaughan, who was a 2nd Judicial Circuit Court judge, is on temporary assignment until the 2022 election. Photo provided by Barry L. Vaughan

Justice Martin takes the oath

Justice LeRoy K. Martin Jr. takes the oath of office Monday to join the 1st District Appellate Court. His appointment follows Justice Shelvin Louise Marie Hall’s retirement last month. While a circuit judge, Martin served as the presiding judge of Criminal Division starting in 2015. Photo courtesy of the Illinois Supreme Court

ISBA holds joint midyear meeting

ISBA President Dennis Orsey presides over the association’s joint midyear meeting over Zoom. The event occurred Dec. 10-11 and featured a joint CLE program with the Illinois Judges Association on the topic of “The Remote Courtroom in the Time of COVID.” During the meeting, the ISBA Assembly posthumously honored attorney John Phipps with the ISBA Medal of Merit Award, recognized retiring Illinois Supreme Court Justices Thomas Kilbride and Lloyd Karmeier with official ISBA Resolutions, and ratified an ISBA letter outlining the association’s position against most of a Chicago Bar Association/Chicago Bar Foundation Task Force Report advocating for substantial changes in the delivery of legal services. Photo courtesy of ISBA

Martinez sworn in as new circuit clerk

Iris Martinez, a state senator for nearly 18 years, was sworn in Monday as the newest Cook County circuit court clerk. She replaces Dorothy A. Brown, who held the office since 2000 and did not run for re-election. Martinez, the first Latina to serve as the circuit clerk, was sworn in by 1st District Appellate Court Justice Jesse G. Reyes. Photo provided by Jesse G. Reyes

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Social Scene

Vaughan takes 5th District Appellate Court seat oath

Justice Martin takes the oath

ISBA holds joint midyear meeting

Martinez sworn in as new circuit clerk

Salute! Women in Law

The inaugural class for Salute! Women in Law

40 Under Forty 2020

Law Bulletin Media announces the Class of 2020

Women in Law 2020

Applauding women in law

Litigation Associate

Attorney

Nurse Paralegal

Experienced Litigation Paralegal

High court swears in 1,590 new attorneys

Illinois House names Welch speaker

Unclear who presides at Trump trial if he’s out of office

Attendants’ suit over grounded jets tossed

High court highlights: The January docket

After excusing violence, Trump acknowledges Biden transition