How good judges can help good lawyers control negative behavior in the courtroom and in the course of litigation will be the subject of forums scheduled this month in Chicago and Collinsville.

The Committee on the “Role of the Bench in Raising the Bar,” a joint effort of ISBA, Illinois Judges Association and Chicago Bar Association, invites all lawyers and judges to brainstorm meaningful corrective responses, which will then be communicated to the judiciary in meetings and possible training.

Two forums will be held: from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the ISBA Chicago Regional Office, and Friday, April 21, at the Gateway Center in Collinsville. Each forum will be followed by a reception.

In a questionnaire sent to about 300 lawyers and judges, the joint Committee learned that:

• 95 percent of respondents said they had encountered negative behavior in the courtroom.

• 7 out of 8 respondents felt that behavior of participants in litigation had remained the same or worsened in the past five years.

“These open forums will seek ideas that will enable good lawyers and judges, working together, to create a better environment in the courtroom, said ISBA President Bob Downs.

“Bad behavior may come from other lawyers, court personnel, litigants, judges and even jurors,” he added. “Our goal is to arm, indeed enable judges with the ideas and means to control behavior throughout the litigation process.”

Each forum will include a panel presentation by practitioners and open forum discussing the extent of civility and professionalism problems. Attendees will be encouraged to offer their experiences and recommended solutions.

Results of the forums will be reported to the chief judge of each circuit, seeking feedback. The end product will be recommended training materials for judges to assist them in dealing with behavior issues that arise, from whatever source, during the course of litigation.

Co-chairs of the joint committee are 2nd District Appellate Court Justice Susan F. Hutchinson, and Michele M. Jochner, an ISBA Board of Governors member who is judicial law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow.

They encourage all practitioners who have concerns about behavior in litigation to participate in the forums so that the broadest range of solutions can be aired.