The Illinois Supreme Court issued two opinions on Friday, February 19. In People v. Jackson, the Supreme Court upheld an appellate court’s decision to deny a defendant leave to file a successive postconviction petition. In People v. Birge, the Supreme Court held that a circuit court judge did not err in reciting all four of the Rule 431(b) principles together to a group of prospective jurors, and the Supreme Court also vacated the defendant’s restitution order and remanded the matter for a new hearing to determine the proper amount of restitution.

Join us from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 9 for an in-depth look at how to effectively represent your client throughout the naturalization process, including the pitfalls they need to avoid when completing the 20-page N-400 Naturalization application form.

America’s fight against its invisible opponent, COVID-19, is ongoing. In response to COVID-19, communities, state, and local officials continue to issue, extend, and modify emergency orders to stop the spread. These authorities are exercised in a variety of measures, including mask mandates and stay-at-home orders. These orders, often incorporating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, include such terms and phrases as “quarantine,” “social distancing,” “six feet apart,” and “work from home.” In her February Illinois Bar Journal article, “Liberties and Lockdowns,” Deanna Shahnami  examines how Illinois courts and the Seventh Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals have slowly established precedent for injunctive relief and how they have weighed executive emergency orders responding to COVID-19 against First Amendment rights. Shahnami’s article is this year’s Illinois Bar Journal Lincoln Award Legal Writing Contest winner.

In 2019, Illinois became one of eleven states to legalize certain cannabis offenses, and became the first state to legalize the commercial sale of recreational cannabis. Time has passed, and cannabis still remains heavily regulated.

Join us online from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3 for this in-depth look at the present status of Illinois’ cannabis laws so you can better advise your clients.

The Illinois Supreme Court today issued an order in remote criminal case proceedings. The order sets forth which criminal case proceedings can be held remotely in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This order, a proposal from the Illinois Judicial Conference’s Court Operations During COVID-19 Task Force (Task Force), is effective immediately.

The deadline to apply for the ISBA's Rural Practice Summer Fellows and Rural Practice Associate Fellows programs is tomorrow, February 12.

The Rural Practice Summer Fellows Program connects law students with rural practitioners to give them experience working in rural communities before they leave law school. The program includes a $5,000 fellowship stipend and mentoring.

ISBA members:

The health and wellbeing of our members are always paramount concerns. In keeping with this important priority, we have decided to once again hold the ISBA Annual Meeting virtually. The 145th Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021. The Annual Meeting will include the organizational meeting of the Board of Governors and a meeting of the Assembly. Both meetings will be conducted by Zoom. ISBA section councils and committees will be holding their organizational meetings via Zoom in the months of June and July.  

Law Bulletin MediaTM announced today that it has appointed Peter V. Mierzwa as president, effective immediately. Mierzwa becomes the 10th president in the company’s 166-year history, following Mike Kramer, who passed away in December.

Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG®) announces it has signed a definitive agreement to sell the business of its subsidiary, ATG Trust Company, to Midland Trust Company (MTC), a subsidiary of Midland States Bancorp, Inc., of Effingham.

The ISBA’s Women & the Law Committee will celebrate International Women’s Day virtually this year on March 8.

This year’s event will feature a panel women judges who will discuss the role of women judges and attorneys in combating racism and sexism.