Your mind may not be the steel trap it needs to be. Learn about superior note taking applications, how to ensure your notes are searchable, and how to keep them organized for future reference with the ISBA's online program, "Steel Traps—Superior Note Taking and Organization Methods," which will be held from noon until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27.

Earlier this year, Terry Mueller, of the Law Office of Steven A Lihosit, represented the defense in Illinois’ first remote civil jury trial, Renata Raskin v. Alexander Mitchell in Lake County’s 19th Judicial Circuit Court. Mueller writes about the prep work, attention to detail, and lessons learned from the trial as he and the other attorneys in the case navigated new procedures created by the Illinois Supreme Court to strike a balance between the Seventh Amendment’s guaranteed right to a trial by jury and public health guidelines for preventing the spread of the contagious coronavirus in close quarters like court facilities. Mueller especially highlights the most impactful provisions of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 and shares how COVID-19 has changed the legal landscape of remote jury selection.

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the four Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Thursday, June 17. In In re Application of Tax Deed, the court analyzed case-specific facts for purposes of determining whether section 22-85 of the Property Tax Code could be applied to void a tax deed. In Municipal Trust & Savings Bank v. Moriarty, the court construed section 2-202 of the Code of Civil Procedure to determine whether a private process server may serve process on a defendant in Cook County without first being appointed by the circuit court. In Roberts v. Alexandria Transportation, Inc., the court invoked its discretion and answered a question of law certified by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which asked “whether the obligation of a settling party is uncollectable pursuant to the Illinois Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act.” In Walker v. Chasteen, the court addressed the constitutionality of section 15-1504.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as well as sections 7.30 and 7.31 of the Illinois Housing Development Act.

Anna Krolikowska, the founder of Anna K Law in Northbrook who concentrates her practice in family law, was installed as president of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) today at the Illinois Supreme Court building in Springfield.