Join us from the comfort of your home or office on December 10, 2015 for this one-hour live webcast that gives you the information you need on the important changes coming to the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the right to consular notification and access that will impact law enforcement, court procedure, and your client! Criminal law attorneys, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, and general practitioners who attend this seminar will better understand: how and why the law was passed; the requirements of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR) and other bilateral consular treaties implicated; how Illinois has led the way regarding the enforcement of consular treaty rights; the ramifications for violating someone’s rights under the VCCR; the implications in a criminal proceeding; a survey of Illinois and Federal case law regarding violations on the VCCR; considerations for criminal defense lawyers, including effective assistance of the Foreign National under the VCCR and P.A. 099-0190; the changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure, including what the new law requires and notification requirement by law enforcement and admonitions/notifications by the Court in any criminal proceeding; the requirement of a written record and mandatory continuances; and much more!The program, which qualifies for 1.0 hour MCLE credit, is presented by the ISBA International & Immigration Law Section and co-sponsored by the ISBA Traffic Laws & Courts Section and the ISBA Criminal Justice Section.
ISBA members, sign up to receive The Bar News' biweekly e-newsletter by emailing emailpreferences@isba.org
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November 9, 2015 |
CLE
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November 6, 2015 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the results of a court user survey that measured public perceptions and experiences with trial courts across the state. Overall, the results show that court users have a very positive view of the courts in Illinois. "My colleagues and I on the Illinois Supreme Court are gratified to learn that so many of our fellow Illinoisans have a positive opinion of the justice system," Chief Justice Rita B. Garman said. "We want to thank those who assisted the court with conducting the study and, in particular, the individual court users who took the time to provide thoughtful answers to the survey questions." "The survey provides us with valuable information we can use to improve not only public perception of our court system, but also its efficiency and effectiveness. We plan to conduct a thorough analysis of the survey results to determine what actions we can take to increase public confidence in our legal system even further. Then, with the assistance the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) and the Strategic Planning Committee, and with the involvement of judges and court administrators throughout the state, we will take action to implement changes that address the needs and concerns of the public we all serve." The recommendation to conduct a survey designed to evaluate the perception and experience of court users came out of the Supreme Court's Future of the Courts Conference in 2013. The Strategic Planning Committee of the Illinois Judicial Conference, in coordination with the AOIC and under the Supreme Court's leadership, developed the survey.
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November 6, 2015
The largest group —1,306—were admitted during two ceremonies at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the 9:45 a.m. ceremony and Justice Mary Jane Theis presided over the 12:45 p.m. ceremony. The ISBA was represented by 2nd Vice President Hon. Russell W. Hartigan. -
November 6, 2015
Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas presided over the Second District ceremony at 10 a.m. at Hemmens Memorial Building in the Elgin Civic Center Plaza in Elgin on November 5. -
November 6, 2015
Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride presided over the Third District ceremony at the Kankakee Community College Main Auditorium on November 5. ISBA President-elect Vincent Cornelius addressed the class. -
November 6, 2015
Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman presided over the Fourth District ceremony at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield on November 5. ISBA President Umberto S. Davi addressed the class. -
November 6, 2015
Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided over the Fifth District ceremony on Nov. 5 at the Southern Illinois University School of Law Auditorium in Carbondale. ISBA Board member Dennis J. Orsey addressed the class. -
November 5, 2015 |
Practice News
In re M.A.By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate DefenderWhen she was 13 years old, M.A. used a knife to cut her 14-year-old brother after a physical altercation between them. As a result, she was adjudicated delinquent of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, and domestic battery. On appeal, she challenged the registration provisions of the Violent Offender Act on various constitutional grounds.Asserting an equal protection violation, M.A. argued that juvenile violent offenders were similarly situated to juvenile sex offenders. The Court rejected that assertion, citing to the legislative history of both the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) and the Violent Offender Act (VOA).
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November 4, 2015
In September, the Honorable Harry J. Leinenweber announced his verdict in the federal bench trial of Chicago criminal defense attorney Beau Brindley and his law partner, Michael Thompson. Judge Leinenweber acquitted Brindley and Thompson on all counts, finding that the government had failed to prove its case.Brindley was accused of coaching witnesses to lie under oath, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy. The 21-count indictment focused on six federal criminal trials where Brindley was defense counsel.Preparing clients and witnesses for trial is an essential part of an attorney's practice. But what are the limits? Where does rigorous preparation leave off and improper coaching begin?Thomas P. McGarry, a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, represents lawyers and their professional liability insurers. He says that the question of how far a lawyer can go explaining to the client the impact on the case of a question and its answer is organic - there is no bright line. Find out more in the November Illinois Bar Journal.1 comment (Most recent November 5, 2015)
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November 4, 2015 |
Practice News
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Wednesday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil cases Price v. Philip Morris, Inc., The Henderson Square Condominium Association v. LAB Townhomes LLC and Folta v. Ferro Engineering. Price v. Philip Morris, Inc.By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. ReaganHolding that 735 ILCS 5/2-1401 does not authorize a circuit court to vacate the judgment of a reviewing court, the supreme court vacated the judgments of both the circuit and appellate courts in this latest of many rounds following the entry of a judgment for compensatory and punitive damages in the amount of $10.1 billion following a bench trial in Madison County in March, 2003. Previously, that money judgment of the circuit court was reversed by the supreme court upon a direct review under SCR 302(b). That plurality opinion found that the Federal Trade Commission had specifically authorized the use of descriptors for light cigarettes, thereby effectively barring plaintiffs’ complaint by operation of Section 10b(1) of the Consumer Fraud Act. There, the supreme court remanded to the circuit court with instructions to dismiss the case, which was done.2 comments (Most recent November 5, 2015)