Illinois Supreme Court Seeks Attorneys for Volunteer Pro Bono Program for Criminal Appeals

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

The Illinois Supreme Court’s Volunteer Pro Bono Program for Criminal Appeals currently has cases available in all five appellate districts that have complete records available and are ready to be briefed.  

Attorneys who meet eligibility criteria can submit a volunteer application to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. 

CLE: Practicing Family Law in a Pandemic

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

The pandemic has increased stress levels experienced by both lawyers and litigants, created conflicts and disputes among families, and fostered an environment where honing our technology skills are a must. Join us from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 15 for this in-depth look at how the family law practice has been impacted by the pandemic, including how it has affected the mental health of clients and practitioners, how to manage a zoom evidentiary hearing, and the litigation of support modification and emergency matters during COVID.

Juvenile Life Sentences After Miller

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

After the U.S. Supreme Court ordered that Miller be applied retroactively regarding de facto life sentences for juveniles, the Illinois Supreme Court in People v. Buffer created a bright-line rule: Any sentence of incarceration greater than 40 years is a de facto life sentence and must comply with Miller and its progeny. This caused a stir in Illinois trial courts, as myriad postconviction petitions were filed by juvenile offenders who were serving terms longer than 40 years and seeking a resentencing under the new rules stemming from Miller. In Joseph T. Moran’s March 2021 Illinois Bar Journal article, “Juvenile Life Sentences After Miller,” Moran notes that practitioners can draw from a substantial amount of caselaw to effectively identify when resentencings are required to address a juvenile offender’s youth and attendant circumstances during a sentencing or Miller resentencing hearing.

Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinions Issued Thursday, March 18, 2021

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the two Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Thursday, March 18. In People v. Burge, the Supreme Court denied a defendant’s motion to withdraw her guilty plea after she asserted that it was involuntary because she was unaware she would lose her job if she pled guilty. In Ciolino v. Simon, a defamation case that arose from a documentary about an exoneration scandal, the Supreme Court considered whether the one-year window when the suit could be filed opened when the movie premiered at a publicized film festival.

2021 High School Mock Trial Invitational

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Rhys Saunders
The Evanston Township High School mock trial team

The 2021 ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational was held March 12-14. For the first time in its history, the event was held virtually.  

Teams representing 46 high schools from across Illinois participated in trials via Zoom. The winning team was Evanston Township High School, which will represent Illinois at the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Evansville, Indiana, which will also be held virtually this year. 

ISBA Candidate Presentation: Third Vice President

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

The ISBA will host a virtual program at 4 p.m. on March 25, which will feature presentations by ISBA Third Vice President candidates Perry J. Browder and Sonni Choi Williams.

The online program will be emceed by Carl Draper, chair of the ISBA Bar Elections Supervision Committee. The program allows for a 10-minute presentation from each candidate.

ISBA and CCBA GAL Diversity Program

Posted on March 16, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

Join the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and Cook County Bar Association (CCBA) from noon until 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 26 for the GAL Diversity Program.

This online program will include a panel discussion about the role and benefits for GALs and the importance of cultural competency and diversity in representation of children in domestic relations cases.