Highland Park massacre suspect skips court half way through first day of jury selection

Prosecutors on Monday dismissed dozens of felony aggravated battery counts against Robert Crimo III, charged in the fatal shootings of seven people and the wounding of dozens more on July 4, 2022.

From: 
Chicago Sun-Times

Supreme Court Rules Committee to hold public hearing on April 23

The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hear comments on six proposals on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 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.

From: 
The Bar News

US Supreme Court rebuffs free speech challenge to abortion clinic buffer zones

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear a challenge to the legality of buffer zones used to protect access to abortion clinics and limit harassment of patients in a challenge brought by anti-abortion activists who have argued that their free speech rights were being violated.

From: 
WMBD

Suburban woman dies after son attacked her with a sledgehammer: Prosecutors

A suburban Burr Ridge woman died two days after her son attacked her with a mini sledgehammer, the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office said.

From: 
NBC 5 Chicago

New bill would raise age in which Illinois seniors need to take a driving test

Drivers who are between 79 and 86 years old would no longer have to take a behind-the-wheel driving test to maintain a driver's license in Illinois under proposed legislation.

From: 
The State Journal-Register

31st Annual Agricultural Law Seminar - Part 2

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 Agricultural Law Section


2.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Friday, February 7, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: March 31, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this opportunity to update your knowledge on family law and how it may impact your family farm clients, as well as how to create a law firm succession! Topics include:
  • The necessary components of a nuptial agreement for farm couples;
  • The financial management of farm families – both with and without a nuptial agreement;
  • Things to consider for farm families facing a divorce or separation;
  • The income, assets, and liability issues during the dissolution of a marriage;
  • Why you should create a succession plan;
  • The elements of a succession plan that should be included;
  • The importance of having a file destruction policy; and
  • Much more.


Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Andrew G. White, Bellatti, Barton, Cochran & White, LLC, Springfield

Family Law for Farm Families
Paul A. Osborn, Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson Law Office, P.C., Sterling
Cari Rincker, Rincker Law, PLLC, Shelbyville

Law Firm Succession Planning*
Rachel Miller, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Springfield
*Originally presented as part of the ISBA’s 31st Annual Agricultural Law Seminar. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand CLE catalog.


Program 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 $70 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $140
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

31st Annual Agricultural Law Seminar - Part 1

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 Agricultural Law Section


3.0 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Friday, February 7, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­April 7, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Get the updates you need on a variety of hot topic issues, including the agricultural real estate issues to be aware of and how to help your clients plan for the Illinois estate tax with this online seminar. Agricultural law attorneys, real estate lawyers, trusts and estates counsel, and general practitioners with intermediate levels of practice experience who attend this seminar will better understand:
  • The insurance considerations to be aware of in agricultural real estate;
  • How to handle cases where real estate is held by an LLC, corporation, or trust;
  • How to calculate the Illinois estate tax for your client;
  • The tax implications for residents with out-of-state property vs. non-residents with Illinois property;
  • The impact of lifetime gifts;
  • The advantages and disadvantages of Qtip trusts;
  • The Corporate Transparency Act updates you need to be aware of;
  • How states around the country are handling foreign ownership of agricultural land; and
  • Much more.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Andrew G. White, Bellatti, Barton, Cochran & White, LLC, Springfield

Agricultural Real Estate Issues: The Basics and Beyond
James F. Kane, Johnson, Bruce & Noble, P.C., Peoria
Alan E. Stumpf, Stumpf & Gutknecht P.C., Columbia

Planning for the Illinois Estate Tax
Aaron D. Evans, Sorling Northrup, Springfield

Hot Topics in Agricultural Law
Garrett Thalgot, Illinois Farm Bureau, Bloomington


*Originally presented as part of the ISBA’s 31st Annual Agricultural Law Seminar. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand CLE catalog.


Program 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 $105 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $210
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Planning for Illinois Estates with Challenging Assets

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: Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Challenging assets can be anything from tax deferred assets, to non-Illinois situs assets, to assets not easily divisible between spousal trusts, and more. Join us for this in-depth look at the strategies you can use to address taxable estates in Illinois that have challenging assets. Trusts and estates lawyers, elder law attorneys, general practitioners, and federal tax lawyers with intermediate practice experience who attend this online program will learn:
  • How to handle estates with less-than-ideal assets to maximize utilization of estate tax exemptions, including the use of disclaimers;
  • How to balance federal planning with Illinois estate tax planning (portability vs. equalization);
  • The options for dividing and/or equalizing assets between spouses or spousal trusts for assets that are not divisible or are tax deferred vehicles; and
  • The barriers and potential workarounds for taxable estates having mostly challenging assets, such as retirement accounts, profit sharing plans, closely held businesses, or illiquid assets.

Program Coordinator:
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook

Program Chat Moderator:
Melissa Johnson, Generation Law, Elmhurst

Program Speakers:
Lauran L. Stevenson, Chapman and Cutler LLP, Chicago
Rebecca Wallenfelsz, Chapman and Cutler LLP, 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

Lincoln, Immigrants, and the American Dream

Posted on February 24, 2025 by Timothy A. Slating

 The topic of immigration in the U.S. has always been controversial, including during Abraham Lincoln’s time. In his February Illinois Bar Journal column, “Lincoln, Immigrants, and the American Dream,” retired judge and Lincoln historian Ron Spears revisits Lincoln’s views on immigration, formed as the country, not yet 100 years old, continued to experience wave after wave of population growth due to people from all over the world seeking a better life here.

Supreme Court Rules Committee to Hold Public Hearing on April 23

Posted on February 24, 2025 by Timothy A. Slating

The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hear comments on six proposals on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 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.