Election 2024 Meet the judicial candidates
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The Supreme Court is taking up a dispute between Republican-led states and the Biden administration over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security. The justices are hearing arguments Monday. – AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File

SCOTUS hears arguments in social media case over free speech

The Supreme Court seemed likely Monday to side with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security.
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SCOTUS rules public officials can be sued for blocking critics on social media

A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Friday that public officials can sometimes be sued for blocking their critics on social media, an issue that first arose for the high court in a case involving then-President Donald Trump.
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House panel opens hearings on Pritzker’s health insurance reforms

A panel of Illinois lawmakers began hearing testimony Wednesday on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposals for sweeping changes in the state’s health insurance industry.
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Pressure grows as Buttigieg says Boeing needs to cooperate with probes

With Boeing facing multiple government investigations, the company needs to make “a serious transformation” around its safety and manufacturing quality, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Monday.

Top feature

Justice Freddrenna M. Lyle reflects on time as alderman, Smollett appeal

Justice Freddrenna M. Lyle said being an alderman for the South Side’s 6th Ward was the hardest job she ever had, with her legal background serving as a “double-edged sword” in helping her community.

Appellate panel upholds $1.1M verdict against city in whistleblower suit

The city of Chicago must pay $1.1 million to a former Independent Police Review Authority investigator who alleged he was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for whistleblowing, a state appellate panel held.

Judge declines to quash subpoena over police records about school incident

A federal judge cleared the way for a Waukegan school district and three school administrators to obtain police reports they say they need to defend themselves against allegations that they conducted an unprovoked attack on a student.

Federal judge tosses equal pay suit against medical waste company

A group of women who work as salespeople for a medical waste management company do not have a discrimination case against their employer for allegedly paying a higher base salary to male employees in a similar position, a federal judge held.

Suit over insurance coverage for COVID-19 losses dismissed

An insurance policy held by a company that manages a Holiday Inn in Texas does not cover the financial losses the company suffered stemming from restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a federal judge ruled.

Courts & Cases

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Contributors

Trial Notebook

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Court considers jurisdiction for Texas two-step bankruptcy

Georgia-Pacific used a Texas two-step bankruptcy — dumping all of its asbestos liability into a new company, Bestwall LLC, that promptly filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 — but a committee of asbestos claimants contends the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction under the constitution’s bankruptcy clause because Bestwall isn’t suffering any financial distress.

Cotter’s Corner

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Operating in the shadows not limited to high court

The U.S. Supreme Court in recent years has made greater use than ever of the shadow docket, a term coined by University of Chicago Law School Professor William Baude to refer to the use by the high court of decision-making that evades the normal appellate process and in which it issues decisions without oral arguments or without full briefing by the parties.

For the Defense

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Appellate panel issues 2 rulings on answering jury questions

Illinois trial lawyers should pay attention to two Illinois Appellate Court decisions issued March 8 regarding the proper manner to handle questions from the jury.

Civil Procedure

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DM, text, email: Rule 102 allows contactless delivery of a lawsuit

In 2024, participating in society — especially as we approach an election — means receiving all sorts of unwanted messages. These messages run the gamut from political spam texts soliciting donations to unsavory advertisements popping up on social media and various emails invading our inboxes.

Opening Statement

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‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ ‘Flyover Chicago’ offer entertainment for entire family

The late Robin Williams has always been one of my favorite actors and comedians. His brilliant career included many celebrated performances such as those in “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Dead Poets Society,” as well as Academy Award-winning in “Good Will Hunting.” Unfortunately, his career tragically came to an end when he committed suicide at 63.

Sports Marketing Playbook

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As NFL protects lucrative Super Bowl IP, some businesses retort

By now, everyone knows that brands pay big bucks to air commercials during the Super Bowl. This year, advertisers shelled out roughly $7 million for a 30-second spot, for an estimated total of $650 million, according to estimates by the Sports Business Journal.

Opening Statement

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‘Just for Us’ brings back golden age of standup comedy

Back in the day, standup comedians used to be a dominant force in Chicago. There was Shelley Berman, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen. By coincidence, they were all Jewish, as were many of their female counterparts such as Joan Rivers, Elaine May and Totie Fields.

Opening Statement

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From ‘Richard III’ to ‘Champion,’ Chicago has something for everyone

I had the pleasure of seeing three excellent, but different, examples of performing arts over the past week.

Sports Marketing Playbook

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Soccer great Ronaldo latest star sued for role promoting crypto

In late 2022, soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo launched a partnership with cryptocurrency exchange platform Binance to promote the sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other digital assets. A year later, Binance has pleaded guilty to willfully violating federal money laundering laws and agreed to pay more than $4.3 billion in penalties and forfeiture to settle the charges.

Social Scene

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Polish-American Attorneys officers installed

The Association of Polish-American Attorneys hosted its annual Installation Dinner and Award of Merit Feb. 29 at the Union League Club of Chicago. Incoming president Hon. Michael J. Chmiel was sworn in by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford. Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans administered the oath to officers Hon. Thomas E. Nowinski, Kathy E. Bojczuk, Roman Drewniak, Julia Jensen Smolka, Hon. Michele Gemskie and Alon Stein. The Award of Merit was presented by Hon. Aurelia M. Pucinski to Marta Almodovar, a Chicago lawyer born in Poland. Photo courtesy of The Association of Polish-American Attorneys
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BWLA honors black judges

The Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago hosted its annual Judicial Reception at Jones Day. BWLA honored the accomplishments of the newly admitted Black women federal judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the Northern District of Illinois and recognized the journey that led to the unprecedented number of Black federal judges currently on the bench. Photo courtesy of BWLA
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Dickerson Awards honor lawyers, judges

The Chicago Bar Association hosted its Earl B. Dickerson Awards Feb. 15 at the Union League Club to recognize minority lawyers and judges. Honored were Judge Maryam Ahmad, attorney Christopher C. Cooper, Commission on Professionalism executive director Erika N.L. Harold, Office of the Illinois Attorney General Chief of Staff Nathalina A. Hudson, attorney Byron F. Taylor and Justice Carl A. Walker. Also pictured are Justice Joy V. Cunningham, CBA First Vice President John Sciaccotta and CBA President Roy J. Koenig III. Photo by Rena Naltsas
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Lighting up the Loop

The Center for Disability & Elder Law hosted its annual “Light up the Loop” Winter Awards Benefit Feb. 29 at Baker McKenzie. From left, Jenner & Block attorney Andrew Merrick, United Airlines counsel Todd Patterson, Jenner’s Lina Powell and Elizabeth Powers, CDEL Executive Director Caroline Manley, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, CDEL Governing Board President Theresa Jaffe, Accenture’s Bob Goldman and Wipro’s Ankoor Bagchi. Photo courtesy of CDEL

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