Illinois Bar Journal

The Magazine of Illinois Lawyers

October 2009 • Volume 97 • Number 10 • Pages 481-536

October 2009 Illinois Bar Journal Cover Image

Practice News

490
Lawpulse | By Helen W. Gunnarsson
496
Illinois Law Update

Jury trial not guaranteed in action that doesn’t exist at common law; Green Building Act establishes green construction standards; new standards for foster family homes; and more.

See cases, legislation, and administrative agencies.

Articles

500
Ethics | By
Robert A. Creamer
Get Ready for Illinois’ New Rules of Professional Conduct
The new rules, which take effect January 1, align Illinois legal-ethics regulation with the national norm. Learn about th emajor changes.
506
Wills | By
Helen W. Gunnarsson
ANATOMY OF A WILL: A Step-By-Step Guide
A step-by-step primer on simple wills for newbies, litigators, and other will-drafting novices.
510
Judiciary / Constitutional Law, Judges | By
J. Timothy Eaton
and
Lynn A. Ellenberger
When Recusal Leads to DEADLOCK: A Constitutional Cure
The authors propose a constitutional amendment allowing replacement of Illinois Supreme Court justices when recusal makes rendering a decision impossible.
518
Tort Law | By
Eugene I. Pavalon
and
Harry C. Lee
The Duty to WARN Against Serious Injury: Can Plaintiffs Successfully Challenge Illinos' Tough Standard?
The authors argue that the Restatement of Torts may offer a way for plaintiffs to argue for a more expansive duty of defendants to warn.
522
Criminal Law / Conflict Of Interest | By
Isaac J. Colunga
Inactive Client Relationships May Create Per Se Conflicts for Criminal Defense Lawyers
A per se conflict of interest may arise because of a past client relationship, regardless of whether criminal defense attorneys have spoken with their former clients in years.

Columns

486
Letters
Correspondence from Our Readers
Dressing for distress - nylons and sandals;  Settlement agreements: do the release first.
488
President's Page | By
John G. O’Brien
Our Season of Service: Meeting the Pro Bono Challenge
Now more than ever is the time to give to the pro bono cause.
526
Loss Prevention | By
Karen Erger
Blogs for Dummies Immigrants
What's a blog, you ask? Read on.
528
Family Law | By
H. Joseph Gitlin
Urban Legends About Family Law
Think men don't get custody or maintenance? Think again.
530
Real Estate Law | By
James K. Weston
Could a “Clunker” Program Solve the Real Estate Lending Problem?
How about letting homeowners trade in their high-interest mortgages for fixed-term models?
532
Asked and Answered | The new-lawyer Q&A
Presenting property tax appeals
Q: The fair market value of my house has decreased since the recession, but my property taxes haven’t. I’ve filed an appeal of my assessment with the Board of Review, and I’m waiting for the hearing. What is my best argument at the hearing? What should I take with me in the way of evidence? What are my chances in getting the taxes reduced?