Six Common Criminal-Trial Errors and How to Avoid ThemBy Rob ShumakerApril 2012Article, Page 212An appellate clerk points out six common errors that send criminal cases to the next level and suggests ways to avoid them.
The Supreme Court Lowers the Bar for Post-Conviction PetitionsBy Stephanie Anders and Rob ShumakerDecember 2011Article, Page 624Recent Illinois Supreme Court cases make it less likely that criminal defendants' petitions will be quickly dismissed as frivolous under the Illinois Post-Conviction Hearing Act.
Using Life Insurance to Secure a Maintenance ObligationBy Rob ShumakerSeptember 2010Article, Page 466What happens when a maintenance-paying spouse dies shortly after the judge signs the dissolution judgment? Is the maintenance recipient out of luck? That may depend on where the case arose.
A Freer Hand for Police at Illinois Traffic StopsBy Rob ShumakerDecember 2009Article, Page 624In response to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Illinois Supreme Court issued decisions that give police more freedom to search and question vehicle occupants at traffic stops.
A Guide to Involuntary Commitment in IllinoisBy Rob ShumakerNovember 2008Article, Page 568Too many involuntary commitments are overturned because the lawyers and judges fail to follow the law. Here's a how-to guide.
