The Public Servant

The newsletter of the ISBA’s Standing Committee on Government Lawyers

2020 Articles

Appeals Court Reinstates Suit Alleging Improper Borrowing by the State By Robert P. Osgood November 2020 On August 6, 2020, the appellate court overturned a circuit court ruling dismissing Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman’s lawsuit surrounding Illinois’ issuance of general obligation bonds in 2003 and 2017.
Background Checks on Citizens Speaking at Government Meetings By Robert P. Osgood March 2020 A look at the implications of conducting background checks on the citizens who sign up to speak at public meetings.
Blind Encounter Access Barriers on IDES Web Page and in Vote by Mail Plan By Patti Gregory-Chang August 2020 A look at how COVID-19 is worsening the issues blind Illinoisans encounter.
Cautionary Tales for Remote Meetings By Robert P. Osgood August 2020 In the wake of COVID-19, government practitioners should be mindful of the recent executive orders and legislation and potential criminal penalties for violations of the OMA due to misuse or technical difficulties with remote meeting technologies.
Copyright of Laws and Public Works Redux: Georgia et al. v. Public.Resource.Org in the Supreme Court By Peter J. Orlowicz August 2020 In April, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed Code Revision Commission v. Public.Resource.Org: and decided that the Government Edicts Doctrine places Georgia’s official state code outside the realm of copyright protection.
The Public Policy Exception to Enforcing Collective Bargaining Agreements: City of Chicago v. Fraternal Order of Police and Section 8.4 By Peter J. Orlowicz & Julia Stublen November 2020 In June, the Illinois Supreme Court held that Illinois law establishes a well-defined and dominant public policy concerning the procedures for retention and destruction of government records, and that an arbitration award forcing Chicago to comply with section 8.4 in contravention of the Local Records Act was void and unenforceable because the award violated that public policy.
Take Care of the Best Machine You Own! By Robert Fioretti, Nicki Pecori Fioretti, & Mary Petruchius May 2020 A look at our realities during COVID-19 and advice on how to take care of yourself during this time.
Transparency in the Time of COVID-19 By James A. Webb May 2020 Two of the primary statutes meant to ensure open government in Illinois, the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, are facing renewed focus in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
What’s App By Kathryn Kelly March 2020 A list of apps that may be helpful for lawyers trying to improve efficiency and organization.