A notice of appeal is a very simple pleading and in most instances may be as short as one page. All that is required for a notice of appeal to be effective is that it be timely filed, name the party who is appealing, specify the judgment or parts of the judgment being appealed, and describe what relief the party appealing is seeking from the Illinois Appellate Court. However, as past ISBA President  J. Timothy Eaton notes in his April Illinois Bar Journal article, “The Timely and Properly Filed Notice of Appeal,” its simplicity should not overshadow its importance. Many appeals have been lost before they could be heard on the merits, Eaton writes, because the appellate court lacked jurisdiction. The appellate court’s jurisdiction is dependent upon a proper notice of appeal being timely filed. Without it, only extraordinary remedies by the Illinois Supreme Court can save the appeal. Eaton, partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister in Chicago, walks through the ins and outs of a notice of appeal properly and timely filed.

The U.S. Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois is accepting applications for an assistant United States attorney opening in its Criminal Division. The applicant selected will represent the U.S. Government as an AUSA in a wide range of unique and complex cases. 

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices (Commission) has released its final report concerning pretrial reform in the Illinois criminal justice system.

Join us  via live webinar from noon until 1 p.m. on Friday, May 1 for Virtual Magic: Making Great Presentations Online (via Webinar from Your Home or Office). Given the new reality of social distancing and working from home, online presentations have become a daily necessity. However, if you approach a virtual presentation or online CLE program the same way you do an in-person talk, your chances of success will be limited. The good news is that a great remote presentation is relatively easy to create and deliver if you understand the dynamics of online audiences. Get the tools you need to connect with and influence others when you can’t be there in person. Attorneys who attend this online seminar will better understand: how to avoid the five common mistakes that derail most virtual presentation; how to incorporate proven strategies to keep your remote audiences engaged; and how to increase the effectiveness of your remote presentations and CLE webinars.