Zoom became a verb faster than any recent brand. Probably faster than even Google. Its explosion into the national consciousness for school, work, and personal relationships filled a void that, in its absence, could have been a chasm. As with Google, Zoom has competitors offering similar features. But unlike its competitors, Zoom provides a compelling combination of approachability and power features.
WHAT: The Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Implementation Task Force (Task Force) will host a series of monthly town hall meetings starting on June 23. These meetings will provide an update on the work of the Task Force as it prepares for the changes coming once the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, and will answer related questions. Questions can be submitted ahead of time to pretrialtaskforce@illinoiscourts.gov
Congratulations to Jon Fay for winning a Visa gift card in the ISBA's 2022 Member Appreciation Month Instagram Contest!
In Feb. 22, 2021, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law HB 3653. Among the many provisions contained within HB 3653 (now Public Act 101-0652) is the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA), a massive overhaul of Illinois’ cash bail system. The PFA makes Illinois the first state to eliminate monetary bail, creating a system in which defendants will be released or detained pending trial based on their risk of nonappearance and/or their perceived dangerousness. If the individual does not fit a certain set of predetermined criteria, they must be released. In his June Illinois Bar Journal article, “Illinois, Out on Bail,” Thomas A. Drysdale compares Illinois’ new law to the federal criminal system, which has operated without cash bail for more than 35 years.
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the four Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Thursday, June 16.
Do you ever feel that your words come across as week, passive, or wishy-washy? Conversely, do your words sound pushy, abrasive, or arrogant? Between these two extremes lies a powerful way of communicating that combines confidence, strength, and authenticity and allows you to stand out. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Andie Kramer and Al Harris, co-authors of two award-winning books that are designed to teach you how to communicate effectively. Learn how to identify and eliminate the words and phrases that decrease your authority and self-assurance – and discover what to say instead.
Join us for this in-depth look at the changes in the Real Property Transfer on Death Instrument Act and updates to the law.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the ISBA's 8th Annual Member Appreciation Month contests.
In February 2021, the Illinois General Assembly enacted sweeping changes to the state’s criminal justice system. The 764-page bill (now Public Act 101-0652), which has since been amended in part, addresses police conduct, bail reform, and pretrial release among other issues. In their June Illinois Bar Journal article, "To Release or Not to Release," Emily L. Fitch and Brenda M. (Duke) Mathis note that many prosecutors across the state opposed the changes in the bill while many defense attorneys embraced them.
A new project will make early Illinois Supreme Court case files more accessible to the public.
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) has awarded the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission a $135,000 grant to support the digitization of nearly 3,700 case files from 1818 to 1865—the beginning of Illinois statehood through the Civil War. The Commission expects the work to take two years.