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Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Law Pulse

Failure to pursue rulings on pre-trial motions can be ineffective assistance of counsel By Adam W. Lasker May 2012 Lawpulse, Page 234 A new supreme court criminal case underscores the importance of challenging - and if necessary, appealing - a judge's failure to rule on pre-trial evidentiary motions.
Illinois FMLA would cover civil unions By Adam W. Lasker May 2012 Lawpulse, Page 234 An Illinois legislative proposal would give members of a civil union the same benefits enjoyed by married couples under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
Proposal would stop employers from seeking social network passwords By Adam W. Lasker May 2012 Lawpulse, Page 234 Proposed legislation would forbid employers from asking for employees' and job applicants' social-media passwords, but some lawyers argue for a public-safety exception.
Three bills would modernize the Trusts and Trustees Act By Adam W. Lasker May 2012 Lawpulse, Page 234 Among other changes, the legislation would make nonjudicial trust modifications easier and limit the risk of liability for fiduciaries who handle specific trust-related tasks.
Foreclosure mediation programs finding homes throughout the state By Adam W. Lasker April 2012 Lawpulse, Page 178 A McLean County program puts homeowners and lenders together with mediators to help work out agreements and uses U of I law students to represent homeowners in mediation.
Governor proposes constitutional amendment to allow ethics referenda By Adam W. Lasker April 2012 Lawpulse, Page 178 Governor Quinn proposes a constitutional amendment to allow voters to enact statewide ethics laws through ballot-initiated referenda questions.
Lying to police can be obstruction By Adam W. Lasker April 2012 Lawpulse, Page 178 Lying to a police officer can support a conviction for obstruction of justice if the lying directly hinders the officer's official performance, the Illinois Supreme Court rules.
No rehiring rights for laid-off Chicago teachers By Adam W. Lasker April 2012 Lawpulse, Page 178 Unlike teachers outside Chicago, tenured Chicago public school teachers have no right to be rehired after they are laid off for economic reasons, the Illinois Supreme Court rules.
Practitioners and title industry unite to iron out new TODI law By Adam W. Lasker April 2012 Lawpulse, Page 178 Title companies are working with drafters of the new transfer-on-death-instrument law to clear up questions and help prevent uncertainty.
Cameras come to Illinois trial courts By Adam W. Lasker March 2012 Lawpulse, Page 126 The high court launches a pilot program to allow cameras in four Illinois county courtrooms.
Co-parties lack standing to appeal substitution-of-judge rulings By Adam W. Lasker March 2012 Lawpulse, Page 126 The Illinois Supreme Court holds in Powell v Dean Foods that a defendant does not have standing on appeal to challenge the ruling on a co-defendant's motion for substitution of judge.
E-filing debuts at the supreme court By Adam W. Lasker March 2012 Lawpulse, Page 126 The AG and appellate defender and prosecutor may now file documents electronically with the supreme court in an early step toward modernizing judicial-system technology.
Narrowing the Illinois anti-SLAPP statute By Adam W. Lasker March 2012 Lawpulse, Page 126 The Illinois Supreme Court reins in a statute designed to stop misuse of defamation lawsuits to silence critics speaking out on matters of public interest.
Undistracting drivers: First no texting, next no talking? By Adam W. Lasker March 2012 Lawpulse, Page 126 Will Illinois join the states that prohibit drivers from talking on cell phones and using other hand-held devices?
The continuing saga of J.S.A., M.H., and W.C.H. By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2012 Lawpulse, Page 70 A long and bitter dispute between two lawyers over the child their relationship produced generates yet another reported opinion.
Curbing abuse of arrest warrants for debtors By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2012 Lawpulse, Page 70 The attorney general's office and a circuit court judge describe steps they're taking to help prevent debtors from being unfairly jailed for failure to pay.
Federal pilot program puts cameras in northern district courts By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2012 Lawpulse, Page 70 Illinois' northern district is one of 14 courts participating in a federal program that allows videorecording of civil cases before district judges if all parties consent.
High court overturns default order against dad in neglect proceeding By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2012 Lawpulse, Page 70 The supreme court finds that a default order against a father who wasn't served with a petition to terminate his parental rights should be set aside.
High court: state must provide videorecordings in DUI misdemeanor cases By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2012 Lawpulse, Page 70 Police videorecordings of traffic stops must be made available to DUI defendants even in misdemeanor prosecutions, the Illinois Supreme Court rules.
Employment covenants not to compete: the high court lays down the law By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2012 Lawpulse, Page 10 Rumors of the death of the legitimate-business-interest test as a measure for determining the legitimacy of restrictive covenants were greatly exaggerated, the supreme court says.
The high court empowers the ARDC to go after UPL By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2012 Lawpulse, Page 10 New rules give the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission authority to prosecute actions for the unauthorized practice of law.
New rules for prosecuting local ordinance violations By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2012 Lawpulse, Page 10 The new supreme court rules bring consistency to ordinance violation proceedings around the state, a proponent says.
Protecting anonymous online speakers: Stone v Paddock Publications By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2012 Lawpulse, Page 10 Plaintiffs seeking pre-suit discovery to unmask the anonymous online posters who allegedly libeled them must first state facts that support a defamation claim, the first district held.
Rules committee hears proposals on divorce, criminal law, evidence issues By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2012 Lawpulse, Page 10 Proposals address financial disclosure in divorce, how judges describe defendants' decision not to testify, and how to handle inadvertent disclosure of documents.
Client service 101 By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2011 Lawpulse, Page 604 A seasoned family law practitioner explains how to avoid common mistakes lawyers make in working with clients.
Is the Illinois Eavesdropping Act unconstitutional? The saga continues... By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2011 Lawpulse, Page 604 Defendants being prosecuted under the Illinois Eavesdropping Act for recording police and other public officials are fighting back, thus far with mixed success.
New bill eases substitute visitation for servicemembers; "visitation abuse" bill defeated By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2011 Lawpulse, Page 604 A look at the contrasting fates of bills designed to 1) ease custody and visitation for deployed servicemembers and 2) increase penalties for visitation abuse.
Substitution of judge for cause: the high court keeps the bar high By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2011 Lawpulse, Page 604 The supreme court refused an invitation to hold that "appearance of impropriety," as opposed to proof of actual prejudice, is the standard for substitution of judge for cause.
What's the best way out of an ethical pickle? By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2011 Lawpulse, Page 604 Taking quick remedial action and preemptive self-reporting can be the best way to handle a disciplinable blunder, ethics authorities advise.
Attention estate planners: new Medicaid asset transfer rules finally adopted By Helen W. Gunnarsson November 2011 Lawpulse, Page 550 New state regulations, passed in response to federal requirements after years of delay, make it harder for nursing home care recipients to both shelter assets and stay eligible for Medicaid.
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