Illinois Supreme Court to Swear-in New Attorneys at Bar Admission Ceremonies Across the State

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Marybeth Stanziola

The bar admission ceremonies for the 279 new attorneys who passed the February 2026 Bar Exam will be held on Wednesday, May 6, in all five judicial districts of Illinois.

The First Judicial District ceremony will be held in Chicago at 11:30 a.m. with Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., Justice Joy V. Cunningham, and Justice Sanjay T. Tailor swearing-in candidates.

Masalski elected Third Vice-President and full results from the ISBA Election

Emily Masalski has been elected Third Vice-President of the Illinois State Bar Association.

From: 
The Bar News

The Jury Is Still Out

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Marybeth Stanziola

Judges, clerks, and court staff are using artificial intelligence (AI), but they are by no means bullish about employing the technology in court. The ISBA hosted a symposium this March in which judges discussed the ways AI is affecting the administration of justice. The program, titled “The Judiciary, Legal Academia, and Artificial Intelligence Going Forward,” was sponsored by the ISBA sections on Federal Civil Practice and Civil Practice & Procedure. A digest of the all-day program is featured in the Illinois Bar Journal’s May issue.

Illinois in line for $148.8M opioid settlement payout from Purdue Pharma

Illinois is receiving $148.8 million from Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family as part of a nationwide $7.4 billion settlement agreement that took effect Friday, marking the state’s latest payout from companies that systematically addicted generations of Americans to opioids.

From: 
WBEZ

Associate Judge Steven Nordquist to retire from 17th Judicial Circuit after nearly 30 years

After nearly three decades of serving Winnebago and Boone County residents, Associate Judge Steven L. Nordquist announced he will soon hang up the black robe for good.

From: 
WIFR

No charges for ICE agent despite violation of state law, Kane County state's attorney says

Filing charges on agent accused of aggravated battery on Elgin protesters would be exercise in futility, Jamie Mosser explains.

From: 
ABC 7

Little-known court case hints at larger issue in Orthodox Jewish community — child sexual abuse, and secrecy

At first blush, a case unfolding in Cook County Judge Daniel Gallagher’s courtroom has the hallmarks of a neighbor dispute that’s taken an ugly turn.

From: 
Chicago Sun-Times

Trump DOJ investigating ‘gender ideology’ in 3 dozen Illinois school districts

Three dozen Illinois school districts are the latest in a string of public schools, colleges and universities across the country named as subjects of federal investigations into whether the institutions teach about sexual orientation and “gender ideology,” and whether parents can opt out of such curriculum.

From: 
Capitol News Illinois