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IJA-6-15-21,ph01
Retired Madison County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Crowder was sworn in as president of the Illinois Judges Association by former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier on June 4 during its annual meeting. The group, which was founded in 1972, represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges. – Zoom screenshot

IJA aims to narrow civil justice gap

A civil justice gap is widening in Illinois. Funding for programs that provide legal assistance is never enough, leaving access to the civil court system increasingly limited, especially for lower-income and traditionally marginalized Illinoisans. As the Illinois Judges Association marks its 50th anniversary this year, we have made it a priority to work to close this gap.
By Special to the Daily Law Bulletin
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Lawsuit against White Sox ruled in play

A man injured by a foul ball at a Chicago White Sox game got the go-ahead to pursue a lawsuit against the team.
By Patricia Manson
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COVID emptied jails. Should that remain?

It wasn’t long after Matthew Reed shoplifted a $63 set of sheets from a Target in upstate New York that the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill.
By Weihua Li, Beth Schwartzapfel and Michael R. Sisak
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State high court pauses transition to new appellate districts

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Supreme Court will delay its transition to implement new appellate court boundaries that were created by a recently approved judicial district map until further notice.
By Sarah Mansur
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Pritzker signs redistricting plans for state legislative, appellate court districts

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a pair of bills Friday that redraw state legislative and appellate court districts, despite the fact that official U.S Census data needed to ensure equal representation has not yet been delivered.
By Peter Hancock

Generation ESQ

Family law attorney tackles new challenges

Being a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s family law attorney referral panel provides Staci Balbirer a lot of outside communication about potential cases.
By John McNally

‘Apex doctrine’ shields ex-COPA official from deposition: judge

The “apex doctrine” shields a former official with Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability from having to give a deposition in a civil rights lawsuit, a federal judge held.
By Patricia Manson

Judge orders early end to Blagojevich’s supervised release

A federal judge on Tuesday put an early end to the two-year period of supervised release of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose 14-year prison sentence for corruption was commuted by President Donald Trump.
By The Associated Press

High court launches free helpline for self-represented litigants

As the court system begins to transition out of its mostly virtual pandemic operations, Illinois courts are attempting to make navigating the process easier with the launch of Illinois Court Help, a free helpline to assist self-represented litigants.
By Jessie M. Molloy

Judge tosses lawsuit over Chicago parking fines

The city of Chicago has the authority to impose fines and penalties of up to $500 on motorists for standing and parking violations as well as for failure to obtain a city sticker, a judge held.
By Patricia Manson

Courts & Cases

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Contributors

Trial Notebook

TNB-6-16-21,ph01

Justice provides primer on independent agencies

Providing a primer on the history of independent administrative agencies, Iowa Supreme Court Justice Brent R. Appel dissented from a ruling that approved a mayor’s decision to fire every member of the local civil rights commission — without cause — when he found out they intended to sue the city. A state law required the municipality to have an “independent” civil rights agency, and Appel denounced the majority decision as being “untethered from the history of the development of independent agencies and the historic caselaw recognizing the need to protect decision-makers in independent agencies through protection from termination without cause.” Bribriesco–Ledger v. Klipsch, No. 19-1397 (April 9, 2021).
By Steven P. Garmisa

For the Defense

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A temporary fix should not be a permanent change

Buried in a slew of changes to the Supreme Court Rules in Proposal 21-01 that would facilitate (or indeed allow) remote proceedings, is an attempt to codify the April 29, 2020, emergency change to Supreme Court Rule 206(h)(3), which concerns the presence of counsel at depositions.
By Donald P. Eckler

Lawyers' Forum

Clifford_Bob

Access to justice must happen now by getting trials up and running

The pandemic certainly has not made it possible for trials — civil or criminal — to take place as we once knew them. To accommodate CDC guidelines of social distancing, larger areas have been created to ease the fears of those who are unvaccinated or may be exposed to those who are unvaccinated like small children.
By Robert A. Clifford

Insurance Matters

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Coverage found for Biometric Information Privacy Act claim

The Illinois Supreme Court recently held that an exclusion in a general liability policy applicable to violations of statutes regulating emails and faxes “or other methods of sending” information did not bar coverage for a claim based on the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
By Don R. Sampen

Opening Statement

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Broadway is warming up for its September return

Broadway is back! Well, it’s coming back in September.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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‘The Niceties’ pits generation against generation

Eleanor Burgess’ play “The Niceties,” which had run at Writers Theatre in Glencoe in 2019, was recently screened by the Manhattan Theatre Club in association with The Huntington. While it was beautifully acted and wonderfully presented, it is still at times, difficult to watch.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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‘Brutal Imagination’ still resonates after 20 years

This past week we marked one year since the horrendous death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer that resulted in repercussions throughout the world.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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Places please: Venues ready to put on a show

Finally, some good news — with the slowing of the COVID-19 crisis, the world of entertainment is opening up.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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‘Measure for Measure’ stands up in audio play from Chicago Shakespeare Theater

During the past 30 plus years in this column I’ve been fortunate to have seen, thanks primarily to Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, many of the Bard’s classic plays.
By Julian J. Frazin
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Social Scene

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Remote court proceedings webinar

Law Bulletin Seminars hosted its “Zoom Like a Pro in Remote Court Proceedings” webinar on May 27. Panelists included Levin & Perconti Partner Michael F. Bonamarte IV (top left), Law Bulletin Media President and moderator Peter Mierzwa, and Maisel & Associates attorney Sara F. Marzullo. Bottom row: Cook County Circuit Court Law Division Judges Jack Callahan (left), Patricia O’Brien Sheahan and Christopher Lawler. The group discussed the skills needed for managing a virtual presence on Zoom in remote court proceedings. The program is available on-demand. Zoom screenshot
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Bar associations look to ‘break down silos’ in legal community

Natasha Jenkins, a vice president with the Cook County Bar Association and the chief legal officer and general counsel at Teamsters Local 700, spoke passionately about racial microaggressions Black attorneys face in the workplace and in life during a joint webinar May 27 titled “Breaking Down Our Silos” hosted by several of the state and local bar associations. Members of each of the bar groups involved discussed racial or sexist issues they face and how the legal community can come together to create a more inclusive and safe environment. After the speeches, attendees broke into groups to come up with possible strategies for improvement. — Zoom screenshot
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ALA, National Black Law Students host Speaker Welch

Appellate Lawyers Association President John M. Fitzgerald and Jessica Fullilove, the Midwest chair of the National Black Law Student Association, hosted a webinar on May 13 with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. The webinar, titled “The Legal Profession in Illinois: Challenges & Opportunities A Discussion with Speaker Welch,” had 99 registrants. Welch said during the webinar that he’s “open to ideas,” but not close to supporting a bill that would take the vote away from the public on judges. — Zoom screenshot
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Lake County court Law Day event

The 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Lake County held a virtual Law Day event May 7 and announced the winners of the 2021 coloring and essay contests. Grade school and junior high school students competed throughout the county, and the winners will be mailed certificates of achievement in addition to a gift card donated by the Lake County Bar Foundation. Pictured from left are Circuit Judge Reginald C. Mathews, Circuit Judge Marnie M. Slavin, Chief Judge Diane E. Winter, Associate Judge Patricia L. Cornell, Circuit Judge Michael G. Nerheim, Associate Judge Jacquelyn D. Melius and Associate Judge George D. Strickland. — Photo courtesy of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court

Special Publications

Salute! Women in Law

Salute! Women in Law

The inaugural class for Salute! Women in Law

Meet the exceptional women in law recognized in our first Salute! awards.
40 Under Forty 2020

40 Under Forty 2020

Law Bulletin Media announces the Class of 2020

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 2020.
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

Retired Madison County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Crowder was sworn in as president of the Illinois Judges Association by former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier on June 4 during its annual meeting. The group, which was founded in 1972, represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges.
Jun
15
Tue

IJA aims to narrow civil justice gap
A view of Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, during a game against the Detroit Tigers in 2021. A lawsuit against the team and Major League Baseball from a man who was hit by a foul ball in 2018 while sitting outside the protective netting can move forward, according to Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kathy M. Flanagan. In 2019, the White Sox extended the protective netting to cover foul pole to foul pole.
Jun
14
Mon

Lawsuit against White Sox ruled in play
Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa member Staci Balbirer sits on the porch at her Glencoe home. Balbirer always knew she wanted to be a family law attorney and has continued to expand her profile in her practice by taking on a 2020 Hague Convention case involving an Ecuador man filing suit against his wife who brought their children to Illinois.
Jun
10
Thu

Family law attorney tackles new challenges
An elevated walkway from the Miami-Dade County Pre-Trial Detention Center to the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building is shown on June 4. By the middle of 2020, the number of people in jails nationwide was at its lowest point in more than two decades, according to a new report by the Vera Institute of Justice. The group’s researchers collected population numbers from about half of the nation’s 3,300 jails to make national estimates. But the numbers have begun creeping back up again as courts are back in session and the world begins returning its new normal.
Jun
08
Tue

COVID emptied jails. Should that remain?
The previous Illinois Supreme Court district map (left) is pictured next to the newly drawn map that was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week. The state’s high court will delay its transition to implement the new appellate court boundaries.
Jun
08
Tue

State high court pauses transition to new appellate districts
Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a statehouse news conference last week. Pritzker on Friday signed a pair of bills that redraw state legislative and appellate court districts.
Jun
07
Mon

Pritzker signs redistricting plans for state legislative, appellate court districts