Convening an Electoral Board: What It's All About and Why It Has To Happen This Week

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 Local Government Section
Co-presented by the ISBA Standing Committee on Government Lawyers


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 12, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Local municipal and township council have the responsibility to convene an electoral board whenever objections arise for the nomination of municipal and township offices. For municipalities, these offices include president, mayor, clerk, trustee, alderperson, and municipal library board, whereas township offices include assessor, clerk, trustee, supervisor, and highway commissioner. Don’t miss this program that discusses all things related to convening an electoral board – from determining the legal composition of the board and setting the schedule, to conducting the hearing and defending the board’s decision. Civil practice lawyers, local government counsel, and government lawyers with intermediate practice experience who attend this online seminar will learn:
  • How to prepare the necessary documents, including Notice of Transmittal and Receipt of Petitions and Objections, Notice of Hearing to Parties, Open Meetings Act Public Notice, and Proof of Service and Service Waivers;
  • How to draft the proposed electoral board rules;
  • The power and duties of electoral boards;
  • Responsibilities of the acting electoral board counsel or additional co-counsel;
  • Disqualification of statutory members and the need for appointment of Public Members;
  • How to comply with the strict Election Code (and Municipal and Township Code) requirements;
  • How to expedite from initial stages through judicial/appellate review; and
  • Much more.


Program Coordinator/Chat Moderator:
Patrick J. Collins, Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Aurora, Aurora

Program Speaker:
Thomas A. Jaconetty, Law Offices of Thomas A. Jaconetty, Chicago


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 $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

Lunchtime FOIA Series: Overview and Compliance Tips

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 ISBA’s Standing Committee on Government Lawyers
Co-presented by the ISBA Local Government Law Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 9, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


 Don’t miss Part 1 of this lunchtime series that offers you an in-depth overview of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), while also giving you the tips you need for staying in compliance. Administrative law attorneys, civil practice lawyers, general practitioners, and local government counsel with basic to intermediate practice experience who attend this online program will better understand:
  • The presumption concerning openness and why agencies are obligated to provide records to requesters;
  • The burden of proof that must be met when asserting requested information is exempt from disclosure;
  • The most commonly used FOIA exemptions;
  • The required response time for FOIA requests;
  • How to handle vague or burdensome requests; and
  • Much more.

Program Coordinators:
Bianca B. Brown, Pretzel & Stouffer, Chicago
Michele K. Niermann, Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd., Chicago

Program Moderator:
Patrick Collins, Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Aurora, Aurora

Program Chat Moderator:
Michele K. Niermann, Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd., Chicago

Program Speakers:
Leilani A. Pino, General Counsel, Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, Chicago
Sarah Walsh, Staff Attorney, FOIA Specialist, City of Aurora, Aurora



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 $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

Civil and Criminal Contempt

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Marybeth Stanziola

 The difference between civil contempt and criminal contempt is often misunderstood, writes Robert S. Held in his October Illinois Bar Journal article, “Civil and Criminal Contempt.” Yet, Held shows, the procedural and substantive differences between the two are vast. Practitioners should understand these differences to help them obtain their clients’ objectives and to prevent the potential for harsh consequences.

Mayor Johnson signs executive order declaring city-owned properties 'ICE-free zones'

It’s the latest of three executive orders that Johnson has signed, all aimed at the deportation campaign that President Donald Trump has imposed in the Chicago area. How and whether they’ll actually be enforced is another question.

From: 
Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois regulation of digital asset kiosks

In addition to the recent Illinois Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act, Illinois recently passed digital asset legislation aimed at protecting consumers against scams and fraud when utilizing digital asset kiosks.

From: 
The National Law Review

Feds: Chicago gang member solicited murder of Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino

An alleged high-ranking Chicago gang member has been charged with soliciting the murder of U.S. Border Patrol field boss Gregory Bovino, the tough-talking commander at the forefront of the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement push “Operation Midway Blitz.”

From: 
Chicago Tribune

Know your rights: Immigration resources for attorneys

The ISBA's Diversity Leadership Council and its International and Immigration Section Council recently partnered with the Resurrection Project’s Immigrant Justice Department to produce a webcast and resources providing immigration-related information to attorneys.

From: 
The Bar News

Judge refuses to immediately block National Guard deployment to Illinois

A federal judge said Monday she wouldn’t hear arguments over Illinois’ bid to block the deployment until Thursday, even after a Trump administration lawyer confirmed that Texas troops are on their way.

From: 
Chicago Sun-Times

Know Your Rights: Immigration Resources for Attorneys

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Timothy A. Slating

The ISBA's Diversity Leadership Council and its International and Immigration Section Council recently partnered with the Resurrection Project’s Immigrant Justice Department to produce a webcast and resources providing information to attorneys who may witness immigrant detentions or may have clients who encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during its current operations in the Chicago area.  This information is intended to provide a basic understanding of the rights of individuals in the community.