District 205’s appeal to federal court ruling cites legal missteps. Here’s what is says

Galesburg School District 205 is appealing a federal court decision that ordered the district to keep a student with disabilities within its school system, arguing that the District Court improperly conducted a new trial, failed to adequately respect the original administrative ruling, and incorrectly applied federal special education law regarding the least restrictive environment.

From: 
WGIL

Illinois Supreme Court approves free remote public access to reviewing court documents effective May 1, 2025

The Illinois Supreme Court entered an order allowing free remote public access to reviewing court documents effective May 1, 2025. The reviewing courts include the Illinois Supreme Court and the five appellate courts.

From: 
The Bar News

Clean Slate Act: IL House Assistant Majority Leader plans to move nonviolent felony expungement bill after 6 years of work

State lawmakers could pass a plan this spring to automatically seal records for people convicted of nonviolent felonies. Felony convictions currently eligible for expungement could be automatically sealed by a circuit court judge or the Illinois State Police.

From: 
WAND

Despite Trump order, Illinois won’t require voter proof of citizenship

Illinois voters casting ballots in the April 1 consolidated elections will not be required to show proof of U.S. citizenship, despite an executive order issued this week by President Donald Trump.

From: 
Herald-Whig

Planning for & Calculating the Illinois Estate Tax

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Trusts & Estates Section

1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: September 7, 2022
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: ­­­­­­­March 28, 2025 - March 27, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Get the information you need on Illinois estate tax law so you can better assist your next trusts and estates client with this online program. Financial planning attorneys, elder law practitioners, and federal, state and local tax lawyers with intermediate practice experience will better understand:
  • How the Illinois estate tax is calculated;
  • How it is impacted by lifetime gifts;
  • When it applies to non-residents; and
  • How the calculation is adjusted for out-of-state property

Program Coordinator:
Daniel P. Felix, The Professional Trustee, Deerfield

Program Moderator:
Aaron D. Evans, Sorling Northrup, Springfield

Program Speaker:
Christine R.W. Quigley, ArentFox Schiff, Chicago

Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Voting Underway in 2025 ISBA Election

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Timothy A. Slating

Voting is now underway in the 2025 ISBA Election.

ISBA's election vendor, Election-America, emailed e-ballots to members with valid email addresses today, Thursday, March 27. Members—without a valid email address or who prefer to vote by mail—may request a paper ballot by contacting Election-America at Help+isba@election-america.com or (866) 384-9978 Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT. The deadline to request a paper ballot is April 15, 2025.

Due to potential spam filters, we are offering an alternative method to vote using ISBA’s website.

To vote online:

  • Go to https://www.isba.org/election.
  • If you are not logged in, click “Login to Vote” and sign in using your ISBA member login information.
  • If you are logged in, click the “Vote Now” button.

All members of the Association (except non-lawyer members) with dues paid by March 1, 2025, are eligible to vote. The deadline for voting is Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. CT.

ABA, more than 50 bar associations condemn 'government actions that seek to twist the scales of justice'

More than 50 state, local and specialty bar associations have joined with the ABA to “defend the rule of law and reject efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.”

From: 
ABA Journal

Attorneys general urge resistance against alleged bullying by Trump administration

Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, has led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in issuing an open letter to the legal community. The letter warns against alleged illegal attempts by the Trump administration to discourage lawyers from challenging its actions or representing clients disfavored by the administration.

From: 
Legal Newsline

Democrats argue Republicans waited too long to file latest redistricting lawsuit

Two elections have come and gone since the Illinois General Assembly passed new legislative maps, and Democrats’ attorneys argue in a new court filing that Illinois Republicans have lost their opportunity to challenge the maps in court.

From: 
Herald-Whig