Candidates for an associate judge vacancy in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit have been rated in an advisory poll of lawyers conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) along with the Boone and Winnebago County Bars. Ballots were sent to all ISBA/Boone/Winnebago members who practice or reside in the 17th Judicial Circuit. Licensed Illinois attorneys who are not members of the ISBA or are outside the circuit could request a ballot. The results of this poll are being released to the public at the request of Chief Judge Brendan A. Maher.
ISBA members, sign up to receive The Bar News' biweekly e-newsletter by emailing emailpreferences@isba.org
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July 10, 2026 |
Practice News
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July 8, 2026 |
Member Services | ISBA News
The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays. The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law. For the month of June, 2026, the ISBA helped 1,231 people in need of legal services find lawyers.
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July 7, 2026 |
Practice News
ALTON, Ill. — Simmons Hanly Conroy and partner Jayne Conroy are nationally ranked in “Product Liability: Plaintiffs” in the 2026 Chambers USA guide. This is the 11th consecutive year that Jayne Conroy has been nationally ranked, including being selected in Nationwide Band 1 for every year since 2020. This is the sixth straight year that Simmons Hanly Conroy has received a Nationwide Band 2 ranking.
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July 7, 2026 | Practice News
Three Illinois court leaders will present at the 2026 National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO) Annual Conference and Trial Court Leadership Academy, a national gathering focused on judicial leadership, innovation, and the future of court administration. The conference will take place August 16–19, 2026, in Wilmington, Delaware. Illinois presenters include: -
July 7, 2026 | People | ISBA News
Congratulations to Matthew Koetters for winning a $100 gift card in the ISBA's 2026 Member Appreciation Month Facebook Contest! As part of Member Appreciation Month, we asked members to like and comment on our Facebook Contest post, recalling a feel-good instance that validated their choice to become an attorney. -
July 6, 2026 | Practice News
ALTON, Ill. — Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP has been ranked among the 2026 NLJ 500, the National Law Journal’s annual survey of the 500 largest law firms by attorney headcount in the United States. Founded in 1999 in Alton, Illinois, Simmons Hanly Conroy has built a national reputation for handling high-stakes, complex litigation and serving in leadership roles in some of the most consequential multidistrict litigation in the country. -
July 6, 2026 | Practice NewsThe Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hear comments on six proposals on Wednesday, September 3, 2026, at a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. at the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, 222 N. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor, in Chicago. All proposals must be approved by the Illinois Supreme Court before they can take effect. The hearing will be livestreamed here.
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July 6, 2026 | CLE
Law Motions, Commercial Calendar, and Courtroom 1501/Arbitration-Best Practices Thursday, July 30, 2026 Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Courtroom 1501, Chicago 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. 1.50 hours MCLE credit -
July 6, 2026 | Practice NewsThe Illinois Supreme Court announced in December 2025 that Illinois will accept transferred scores from the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen UBE), a new version of the bar examination, beginning in July 2026. In an order issued today, the Court announces that the passing score recognized by Illinois for the NextGen UBE shall be 620.
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July 6, 2026 |
Practice News
June 30, 2026 – ST. CHARLES, IL — The 16th Judicial Circuit has issued two general orders that set forth expectations for conduct on courthouse premises and procedures for apprehensions at or near court facilities. General Order 25.06 (entered May 2, 2025) addresses procedures in the apprehension of individuals in Kane County courthouses; General Order 26.09 (entered June 25, 2026) establishes guidelines for court facility access, public demonstrations, and safety related to protest activities.