America’s fight against its invisible opponent, COVID-19, is ongoing. In response to COVID-19, communities, state, and local officials continue to issue, extend, and modify emergency orders to stop the spread. These authorities are exercised in a variety of measures, including mask mandates and stay-at-home orders. These orders, often incorporating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, include such terms and phrases as “quarantine,” “social distancing,” “six feet apart,” and “work from home.” In her February Illinois Bar Journal article, “Liberties and Lockdowns,” Deanna Shahnami examines how Illinois courts and the Seventh Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals have slowly established precedent for injunctive relief and how they have weighed executive emergency orders responding to COVID-19 against First Amendment rights. Shahnami’s article is this year’s Illinois Bar Journal Lincoln Award Legal Writing Contest winner.
Practice News
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February 16, 2021 | Practice News

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February 11, 2021 | Practice News

The Illinois Supreme Court today issued an order in remote criminal case proceedings. The order sets forth which criminal case proceedings can be held remotely in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This order, a proposal from the Illinois Judicial Conference’s Court Operations During COVID-19 Task Force (Task Force), is effective immediately.
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February 10, 2021 |
Practice News
Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG®) announces it has signed a definitive agreement to sell the business of its subsidiary, ATG Trust Company, to Midland Trust Company (MTC), a subsidiary of Midland States Bancorp, Inc., of Effingham.
1 comment (Most recent February 11, 2021) -
February 10, 2021 |
Practice News
The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) has been chosen as one of 80 inaugural grant recipients for the Illinois’ Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) Program. Through this grant of $29,805, PILI will bring more pro bono legal services to low-income people in Southern Illinois.
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February 8, 2021 | Practice News

After more than four decades of practice in estate planning, estate administration, and real estate law, Gary Gehlbach (also, a member of the Illinois Bar Journal Editorial Board) shares a plethora of tips he has accrued over the years and that came to him during restless nights and in half-conscious streams, usually around 5 a.m. The 17 tips--all easily digestible and highly practical--include “address all contingencies,” “don’t use a legal life estate,” “avoid absolutes,” and “consider potential beneficiaries with special needs.” With nearly every tip, Gehlbach provides good reasons for it and an example or two from his practice.
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February 5, 2021 | Practice News

The Illinois Supreme Court issued one opinion on Thursday, February 4. In Rehfield v. Diocese of Joliet, the Supreme Court held that a fired Catholic principal can't sue the school for her termination because the diocese’s actions are protected by constitutional religious freedom guarantees.
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February 4, 2021 |
Practice News
Under the leadership and supervision of the Senior Managing Attorney, this is a full-time position to be based in Chicago or Central Illinois. The Managing Attorney II will serve as a member of PILI’s Programs Team, with responsibility for managing PILI’s statewide efforts to expand and enhance pro bono. This is a dynamic position that requires both the ability to organize and coordinate at a high level, while also being actively engaged in administration and implementation. The ability to do regular and significant statewide travel, and limited national travel, is required.
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February 4, 2021 |
Practice News
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois is seeking an assistant U.S. attorney in its criminal division.
Criminal AUSAs prosecute federal criminal cases in the District. Criminal AUSAs advise federal law enforcement agents on criminal investigations, present criminal cases to the grand jury, try criminal cases before the United States District Court, and may represent the United States in criminal appeals before the Circuit Court of Appeals. Candidates should be capable of handling a variety of significant and complex criminal prosecutions.
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February 4, 2021 |
Practice News
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois is seeking an experienced attorney to serve in the Civil Division and handle defensive cases where they will defend government agencies and employees of the government sued in an individual capacity in a wide variety of challenging cases and to represent the government in affirmative litigation when public funds have been wrongfully obtained by fraud. The Civil Division defends the interest of the United States from suits alleging statutory torts, constitutional torts, employment discrimination, and a myriad of other claims. The Civil Division also prosecutes cases for fraud and other violations of federal laws and is responsible for collecting monies owed to the government as a result of criminal fines, defaulted student loans, mortgage foreclosures, bond forfeitures and civil judgments. The division's civil rights enforcement program investigates and litigates cases involving discrimination in the areas of housing, public employment, disability, voting and education.
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February 3, 2021 |
Practice News
The Will County Bar Association in collaboration with the Black Bar Association of Will County, Latino Bar Association of Will County, Will County Women’s Bar Association and Spesia & Taylor Attorneys at Law is pleased to announce applications are currently being accepted for the Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship Program.