The newsletter of the ISBA’s Diversity Leadership Council

June 2007, vol. 1, no. 1

Now every article is the start of a discussion. If you're a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, you can comment on any of the articles that appear below.

In This Issue…

• Diversity in the Legal Profession: What we can do to open doors?
  The Illinois State Bar Association proudly stood as a co-sponsor of the ABA resolution supporting the creation of a Diversity Pipeline to help guide young minority students to the law. With over 70 official sponsors of the resolution, Illinois stands with 20 state bar associations and numerous county, city and specialty bars, as well as ABA sections, in support of opening doors to offer opportunities to any student who aspires to a career in the law.
• Diversity in the Legal Profession: ISBA’s commitment continues
  The Illinois State Bar Association has a long-standing and unwavering commitment to diversity in the legal profession and in the Association.  
• Chair's column
  As chairs of the Standing Committees on Women and the Law and Minority and Women Participation, we are pleased to share with you the diversity outreach and educational efforts that our committees have undertaken during the past year. 
• Diversity Roundtable: Pipeline to the future
  During the past year, the Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation has been exploring ways that the Illinois State Bar Association can encourage more minorities traverse the educational pipeline into the legal profession.
• The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and its mission
  The Illinois Supreme Court took a dramatic step forward by creating the Commission on Professionalism.
• Diversity is a yarn, until women of color are woven into the law firm fabric
  Regardless how accomplished a woman may be, she cannot climb, much less reach the top of, the leadership ladder unless she spends a certain amount of years in her work environment.
• Articulating the business case for inclusion
  Abundant research, practical experience, and media stories support the business case for diversity. Ensuring that diversity is achieved requires committed leadership and rigorous assessment so that change is both measurable and sustainable into the future.
• Summary of the 2006 Diversity Luncheon
  On September 18, 2006, the Peoria County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee held its third annual Diversity Luncheon and outdid itself again.
• The Chicago Call to Action for Women Attorneys: The right thing to do for law firms
  The Call to Action was launched on January 25, 2005 to increase the number of women partners and to enhance leadership opportunities for women attorneys in law firms.
• Diversity news
  The Minority Corporate Counsel Association selected the law firm of Laner, Muchin, Dombrow, Becker Levin and Tominberg, Ltd. as the recipient of the Thomas L. Sager Award for the Midwest Region.
• Mission Possible: Black Law Students Association at SIU Initiative
  BLSA, which is an organization comprised of a small group of African American and other minority law students, has targeted minority elementary, middle, and high school students, most of whom will come from low income and educationally deprived communities in Illinois and surrounding areas.
• Excellence and strength through diversity: The positive impact on the future of our profession
  Increasing diversity within the legal profession not only contributes significantly to the quality of the profession, but also serves to enhance the public’s confidence in, and respect for, the legal system. As members of the legal profession, it is our duty and obligation to assume the lead in assuring that there is gender, racial, ethnic and sexual orientation diversity within our ranks.

Related Court Cases

Due Process
Murray v. Poani
Plaintiffs filed Section 1983 action, alleging that village and its police department deprived them of their due process rights in active involvement in a private repossession of their vehicle. Issue of material fact exists as to whether deprivation of due process rights was as a result of state action, by officer facilitating unlawful taking of personal property. (APPLETON and KNECHT, concurring.)

Professional Regulation
Parikh v. The Division of Professional Regulation of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Court was within its discretion in denying neurologist's request for stay of IDPR's order indefinitely suspending his medical license for minimum of one year, upon allegations he had repeatedly touched breasts and vaginal areas of 21-year-old patient during neurological examinations. Neurologist did not show that granting stay was not contrary to public policy; Director explained his points of disagreement with ALJ's finding, and statute does not limit Director's authority to disagree on questions of aggravation or mitigation. (SALONE and NEVILLE, concurring.)

Tax
Kaider v. Hamos
Court properly denied petition for leave to file taxpayer's suit to enjoin disbursement of state funds under Section 11-303 of Code of Civil Procedure, to prevent State from providing health benefits to pregnant women and children not lawfully in the United States. Illinois General Assembly opted out of the benefits bar via federal statute giving states authority to provide benefits to unlawful aliens through enactment of State law after August 1996. All Kids Act raised income threshold for eligibility, and imposed no immigration or citizen requirements, and stated intent was to allow "all children" of Illinois to access affordable health insurance. (McBRIDE and HOWSE, concurring.)

Sexual Harassment
Crittenden v. Cook County Commission on Human Rights
Bartender filed sexual harassment complaint against former employer. Cook County Commission on Human Rights properly awarded bartender lost wages and compensatory damages, given evidence and conflicting witness testimony. Commission properly allowed Petitioner to testify to clarify date of harassment incident, mistakenly identified as one week earlier in complaint. Commission did not err in allowing hearsay testimony of Petitioner's family, as defense introduced subject initially. Commission, as administrative agency, has no general or common law authority to award punitive damages, and County Human Rights Ordinance does not authorize punitive damages. (GARCIA and LAMPKIN, concurring.)