Reform groups say CPD’s new plan to stop and search Chicagoans violates constitution, consent decree

New rules designed to limit when Chicago police officers can stop and search Chicagoans violate the U.S. Constitution by allowing officers to stop and frisk people based on their race or ethnicity, a coalition of reform groups told the federal judge overseeing efforts to reform the Chicago Police Department.

From: 
wttw

Pritzker signs ‘Karina’s law’ to remove guns from domestic violence situations

Karina Gonzalez and her 15-year-old daughter Daniela were shot and killed on Fourth of July weekend in 2023 at their Chicago home, allegedly by her husband. After more than a year of negotiations, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill in her honor Monday that is designed to remove guns from domestic violence situations.

From: 
Illinois Business Journal

Trump pardons disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

President Trump has pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of corruption-related crimes, including trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat vacated by former President Barack Obama.

From: 
NPR Illinois

New bill seeks more thorough review of officer candidates' past employment

Senate Bill 1953 would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a prospective officer’s past employment to ensure that candidate is physically and psychologically fit for duty.

From: 
The State Journal-Register

ISBA’s Springfield Office Closed on Wednesday, February 12

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Timothy A. Slating

On Wednesday, February 12, the ISBA's Springfield Office will be closed so that staff can attend the funeral service of John Berry, the longtime Maintenance Technician for the Illinois Bar Center. As such, the Member Service Representatives will not be available to answer the ISBA's main phone line, but members will still be able to reach staff at the Chicago Regional Office by calling the main phone line and using the digital directory to reach those staff members.

Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Mathew Vaughn as Resident Judge in Wayne County

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Timothy A. Slating

Justice David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Matthew E. Vaughn as a Resident Circuit Judge in Wayne County in the Second Judicial Circuit. 

Mr. Vaughn was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Molt on November 30, 2024. The appointment of Mr. Vaughn is effective February 20, 2025, and will conclude on December 7, 2026, following the November 2026 general election. 

Collecting Judgments & Bankruptcy Issues Series: Collecting Against LLC Interests and Using Equitable Remedies to Enforce Judgments

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 Commercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy Section


1.50 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 10, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss Part 3 of this three-part series as we discuss important issues to consider when collecting against LLC interests and using equitable remedies to enforce judgments. Topics include: strategies to enforce judgments against a judgment debtor’s ownership or interest in an LLC; the equitable remedy options available in judgment enforcements; actions for fraudulent conveyances; constructive trusts; piercing the corporate veil; and much more.


Program Coordinators:
Samuel H. Levine, Downey & Lenkov LLC, Chicago
Nathan Lollis, Law Offices of Nathan Lollis, LLC, Chicago

Program Chat Moderator:
 Samuel H. Levine, Downey & Lenkov LLC, Chicago

Program Speakers:
Keith Barnstein, Markoff Law LLC, Chicago
Laura E. Schrick, Mathis, Marifian & Ritcher, Ltd., Belleville


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 $52.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $105
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Artificial Intelligence in Personal Injury Law

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 Tort Law Section


1.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 12, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Learn how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing personal injury law – from adding efficiency to your law firm practice and delivering excellent results for clients, to streamlining legal research and creating trial exhibits and infographic documents. Attorneys with all levels of practice experience who attend this online program will better understand:
  • The evolution of artificial intelligence in the practice of law;
  • How to leverage artificial intelligence to deliver excellent results for your clients;
  • How the application of AI tools can assist with legal document review and generation;
  • How to use it in drafting demand letters to start settlement discussions;
  • How it can build out medical chronologies almost instantaneously to summarize thousands of pages of records;
  • How AI can help insurance adjusters with claims evaluations;
  • How to build custom GPT bots for personal injury applications;
  • How to use artificial intelligence to identify what biases to consider when preparing for voir dire;
  • How to develop cross-examination strategies for specific witnesses, as well as identify gaps in their reports and medical literature;
  • How to use artificial intelligence to market your practice; and
  • Much more!
A discussion on the ethical and professional issues to consider when using artificial intelligence in your practice is also included.

Program Coordinator/Chat Moderator:
Josh Rohrscheib, Onward Injury Law, Bloomington

Program Speaker:
Michael McCready, McCready Law Injury Attorneys, 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 $52.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $105
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about SALT (State and Local Taxation) but Were Afraid to Ask

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 State and Local Taxation Section


4.0 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 10, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this nuts-and-bolts discussion regarding the state and local taxation practice. Topics include: the current state of the tax law practice; a review of Illinois taxes; how to represent your client in a tax forum; an overview of the Illinois Department of Revenue; how to contest a property tax dispute before the Cook County Assessor’s Office or the Cook County Board of Review; and how virtual hearings can help the tax appeal process.


Program Coordinators/Moderators:
David Kupiec, Kupiec & Martin, LLC, Chicago
Gary H. Smith, Law Offices of Gary H. Smith, a division of KSN, Chicago

Understanding Today’s State and Local Tax Practice
Join us for an in-depth look at the impact that state income, sales and franchise tax have on the day-to-day operations of your clients’ businesses. Topics include: understanding what is required to do business in Illinois, such as registering with the State, remitting taxes, and filing tax returns; the importance of monitoring state tax legislation and changes to policy; income and sales tax nexus and sourcing; and how to plan for state tax audits and litigation.
David Kupiec, Kupiec & Martin, LLC, Chicago
Natalie Martin, Kupiec & Martin, LLC, Chicago

Local Taxes That Are Not Property Taxes
Gain a better understanding of amusement taxes, lease taxes, and more with this informative segment. A discussion on how to represent clients challenged with these unique issues is also included.
Samantha K. Breslow, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Chicago

An Introduction to the Illinois Department of Revenue
This segment offers a comprehensive overview of the various procedures available for contesting a liability or claim denial, as well as a discussion on how to participate in the voluntary disclosure program, obtain relief through payment plans or offers in compromise, and more.
Brian Fliflet, Illinois Department of Revenue, Chicago

Property Tax Practice in Cook County
Don’t miss this presentation that gives you the information you need to represent clients who want to review and protest property tax on all types of properties. Topics include: how to represent your client when contesting a property tax assessment at the Cook County Assessor’s Office and the Cook County Board of Review; how to locate property tax assessment information; how to use the online filing system of the Cook County Assessor and Cook County Board of Review; and the circumstances and situation for seeking relief.
Lauren C. Elliott, Elliott & Associates, Chicago

Property Tax Practice Outside of Cook County
This session outlines and compares Illinois ad valorem assessments and appeals outside of Cook County, explores the rules, procedures, and local considerations regarding appeals in the collar counties and beyond, and discusses how the Property Tax Code is applied at a local level. A look at the various approaches for assessing and taxing real property outside of Cook County is also included.
Daniel Pappano, Zwelling Law, PLLC, Chicago

Virtual Hearings and the Tax Appeal Process
As traditional in-person tribunals struggle with accessibility and efficiency, digital platforms offer solutions to reduce travel barriers and geographic bias. This presentation explains how virtual hearings can transform legal services by addressing unmet needs and streamlining the tax appeal process, while offering best practice tips for implementation and compliance.
Mark D. Armstrong, Kane County Supervisor of Assessments, Geneva


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 $140 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $280
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free