The newsletter of the ISBA’s Diversity Leadership Council

June 2010, vol. 4, 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 Leadership Council—Report from the Chair
  An introduction from Chair Alice Noble-Allgire.
• Editor’s comments
  A note from Editor E. Lynn Grayson.
• Keynote remarks of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan at the ISBA’s Midyear Meeting program “Lincoln’s Legacy: Lawyers Protecting Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”
  A transcript of the Attorney General's address at the ISBA's Midyear Meeting.
• E. Lynn Grayson’s Introduction of Judge George Leighton receiving the ISBA Diversity Leadership Award
  An description of the ISBA Diversity Leadership Award and background of its first recipient, Hon. George N. Leighton.
• Carrying on Lincoln’s legacy: Lawyers who are making a difference today
  Four distinguished Illinois attorneys shared their stories as part of the ISBA’s Midyear Meeting program, “Lincoln’s Legacy: Lawyers Protecting Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
• The Alliance of Illinois Judges
  Established in 2009 by 15 Cook County judges who openly identify themselves as gay or lesbian, the Alliance of Illinois Judges seeks to promote the administration of justice and to improve the legal profession.
• The Unity Dinner and Annual Bar President’s Swearing-In Ceremony unites the legal community in a celebration of diversity
  More than 50 area bar associations came together for the 2009 Unity Award Dinner and Seventh Annual Bar Presidents Swearing-In Ceremony.
• Continuing a proud tradition
  Since it first began in 1993, the Korean American Bar Association of Chicago has undergone tremendous growth and change.
• Justice Albie Sachs’ book: The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law
  A description of the memoir by Justice Albie Sachs, who in 1994 was appointed to the Constitutional Court of South Africa by Nelson Mandela.
• The commitment to diversity should be a badge worn every day
  The Annual Diversity Luncheon has been one of the Peoria County Bar Association's most well-attended and successful events. But if statistics are any indicators, there's still have a long way to go to ensure diversity in the legal profession.
• The Chicago Committee Mentorship Academy: A Model for Mentoring Diverse Associates
  The Chicago Committee Mentorship Academy launched in 2008, and uses a non-traditional model to help new associates find success and fulfillment in their legal practice.
• Celebrating Women in the Legal Profession: Remembering the Past and Reaching Out to the Future
  The ISBA’s “Celebrating Women in the Profession” luncheon was held on March 9, 2010.
• Illinois’ legal community unites to raise over $100,000 for Haiti rebuilding efforts
  On March 31, approximately 400 lawyers from the Illinois legal community joined together for an evening in support of charities working in Haiti to rebuild a country shattered by the loss of over 200,000 people as a result of the recent earthquake.
• Obama Administration Outreach to Chicago Legal Community
  On November 2nd, Chicago welcomed back its own Kareem A. Dale, Special Assistant to President Obama, to address issues of concern to the Chicago legal community.
• Update from the Chair of the Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law
  The mission of the Standing Committee has been focused on educating and creating awareness of issues impacting racial and ethnic minorities.
• Update from the Chair of the Women and the Law Committee 2009-2010
  The Chair provides insight into the Committee's accomplishments this year.
• Chicago Foundation for Women
  A summary of comments made by Kelly White, Executive Director of the Chicago Foundation for Women, at its 24th Annual Luncheon on September 24, 2009.

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.)