Events around the city and state are being postponed or canceled amid the spread and concern over the novel coronavirus.

Here’s a summary of happenings in the legal and governmental worlds that have been affected so far in addition to some pertinent building closures. This post will be updated periodically.

For a roundup of all our recent coverage, see our COVID-19 Update.

Know of a canceled or postponed event we should share? Contact Jordyn Reiland at jreiland@lawbulletinmedia.com.

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Lots of changes to proceedings, filing deadlines and procedures posted on the court's home page.
The clerk's office inside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse is closed to the public. On March 30, the court extended case delays by another four weeks. And on April 24, it pushed matters back an additional 28 days.

Cook County Circuit Court

Starting March 17 and now running through (at least) May 17, most nonemergency civil matters will be delayed.

DuPage County Circuit Court

DuPage County Chief Judge Daniel P. Guerin issued an administrative order Monday to reschedule nonemergency civil and criminal cases set after March 17. The most recent order pushes back matters scheduled between April 20 and May 15 another 30-60 days from their original date. Attorneys can look up the new dates through the eaccess portal, and the general public can use the epay portal.

Starting May 1, all attorneys and members of the general public will be required to wear face coverings inside the DuPage County Courthouse.


More details are available at dupageco.org/courts.
 

Lake County Circuit Court

The 19th Judicial Circuit Court announced emergency measures on March 16. Through at least May 15, the court will close for all but emergency matters and key criminal proceedings. More info at the court’s website.

Kane County Circuit Court

The 16th Judicial Circuit will continue most criminal and civil cases starting April 17, and they'll now remain postponed until after June 1 according to an announcement from Chief Circuit Judge Clint Hull.

Cases set for trial through July 31 are continued until Aug. 3 at the earliest.

The Aurora branch court, Elgin branch court and Kane County branch courts will be closed through May 29. More info at the court's website.

23rd Judicial Circuit Court (DeKalb, Kendall Counties)

Chief Circuit Judge Robert Pilmer on March 14 announced a 30-day closure of most court operations from Wednesday through April 17.

7th Judicial Circuit Court (Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon and Scott Counties)

Chief Circuit Judge John M. Madonia announced beginning March 16, and until further order of the court, the 7th Judicial Circuit will operate at a reduced capacity.

The only court hearings held include those already in-custody, criminal felony matters, juvenile temporary custody, juvenile detention hearings, petitions for emergency orders of protection, hearings for plenary orders of protection and emergency hearings on family matters as scheduled by the court.

Those who need to schedule emergency matters can do so by contacting the Sangamon County court clerk at (217) 753-6674.

Champaign County Circuit Court

The courthouse is closed from March 16 through March 30, according to the court clerk’s website.

Cases scheduled during that time will be continued. Emergency hearings will be addressed on a daily basis by a limited court staff.

Third Judicial Circuit (Madison and Bond Counties)

Chief Circuit Judge William A. Mudge announced March 16 that all case management and status dockets, all child support dockets, all compliance dockets for DUI and Domestic Battery Courts, all probate and landlord-tenant cases, all petitions to revoke and bond preliminary hearings, all traffic appearance dockets scheduled for March will be automatically continued until further notice.

All civil and criminal cases scheduled for the next 30 days will be continued so long as both parties agree. The parties also have an option to conduct court proceedings via email, video or by telephone if needed.

Probation and court services will also reduce in-person contact.

13th Judicial Circuit (LaSalle, Bureau and Grundy Counties)

Beginning March 18 through April 30, the 13th Judicial Circuit Court will postpone the following cases and court proceedings: all non-emergency civil court appearances, traffic cases, misdemeanor cases, most juvenile cases, marriages and courthouse tours.

The court proceedings that will be held as scheduled include: All matters with those in custody, criminal felony matters, juvenile temporary custody, juvenile detention hearings, petitions for emergency orders of protection, hearings for plenary orders of protection, emergency hearings on family matters, hearings on petitions to rescind summary suspension, grand jury proceedings, Grundy County Mental Health Court and Grundy County Drug Court.

The court will continue to summons jurors and will implement a plan to reduce the number of jurors to reduce congestion.

ACLU of Illinois

Appellate Lawyers Association

  • The Appellate Lawyers Association postponed its 1st District Roundtable Luncheon at the Union League Club. The event is expected to be rescheduled at a later date, according to event organizers. Full refunds will be issued to those already registered.

Asian American Bar Association

April 14: The AABA’s panel “2020: Increasing Diversity in Arbitration” has been postponed, per an AABA email announcement.

Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission

The Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission has closed its Springfield and Chicago offices, in compliance with Gov. Pritzker's stay at home order.

ARDC Chairperson David F. Rolewick has ordered all in-person discovery, all hearings and pre-hearings before the Hearing Board, and all oral arguments before the Review Board be delayed until April 24, and thereafter be rescheduled by order of the hearing panel chair and the review board chair respectively.

The Chicago Bar Association

CBA’s events scheduled through the end of April are cancelled, according to a spokeswoman.

Cook County government

  • Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued orders last Thursday canceling County Board meetings and other county-organized commissions through March and into April. Board meetings that do happen will be pared down and will have limited in-person public access.
  • The Cook County Treasurer’s Office closed at noon on Friday and will remain closed indefinitely, Treasurer Maria Pappas announced. The office will continue accepting tax payments at cookcountytreasurer.com, through the mail and at partnering bank branches. The treasurer’s website will be staffed by remote workers who can answer questions.
  • The Cook County Assessor’s Office closed its downtown and suburban offices on Friday. Property owners can file exemptions and appeals at cookcountyassessor.com. Staff can answer questions through the website and a customer service phone line. Legal practitioners representing property owners will be required to file appeals online only, the announcement said.

DuPage County Bar Association

  • Through the end of the month, there will be no food and beverage service in the Attorney Resource Center at the Wheaton Courthouse, following the association announcement. The resource center will remain open and courthouse staff will clean more regularly.
  • All of association’s Continuing Legal Education programs planned through the end of March have been suspended and will be rescheduled, if possible.
  • DCBA Unwind is canceled.
  • The association’s Ask a Lawyer Help Desk is canceled.
  • The DuPage County Bar Association office remains closed until further notice. Staff are working remotely and continue to manage membership, CLE, Driver School and Lawyer Referral Service. For questions or concerns call (630) 653-7779 or email email@dcba.org.

Illinois State Bar Association

  • The association’s Access to Justice Listening Tours on Thursday and April 6 are postponed. Announcements regarding the April 21 and April 22 scheduled events are TBD.

Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism

  • April 23: 2Civility’s “The Future Is Now: Legal Services” conference is canceled.

Illinois state government

  • The Thompson Center will be closed starting today, to all people not there on official state business.
  • The Illinois Secretary of State closed its offices and driver service facilities to the public through March 31.

The office will also extend expiration dates for IDs, vehicle registrations and other filings by 30 days. More info is posted at cyberdriveillinois.com.

Lake County Bar Association

The website on the LCBA website shows all March as canceled.

Law Bulletin Media

  • April 30: CDLB’s and Chicago Lawyer’s inaugural Salute! Women in Law Awards reception will be moved to a date later this summer. The disruption will also cause a delayed announcement of the honorees. Questions can be directed to Spencer Post, spost@lawbulletinmedia.com and (312) 644-6762.

Northwest Suburban Bar Association

The NWSBA website indicates all events in March have been canceled.