Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis announced today the addition of new members to her Judicial Screening Committee. 

The screening committee was formed for the purpose of assessing the qualifications of those persons who have applied for appointment to the Office of Judge of the Circuit Court for Cook County. The committee is currently reviewing candidates for vacancies created by the retirements of Judge Joan O’Brien and Judge Sharon Sullivan. Under the Illinois constitution, the vacancies will be filled by Supreme Court appointment. 

The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hold a special virtual public hearing via Zoom on February 2, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. to hear testimony on a proposal from the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee (IJEC) to introduce a new Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct. 

The Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct proposal, Proposal 21-08, is based on the American Bar Association’s 2007 Model Code of Judicial Conduct and seeks to advance the IJEC’s mission of promoting the highest standards of ethical conduct by judges in Illinois. Thirty-seven states have previously adopted new Codes of Judicial Conduct based on the 2007 Model Code. 

The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays. The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law. For the month of November, 2021, ISBA helped 705 people in need of legal services find lawyers. 

The prevalence of mental illness and co-occurring disorders is greatly impacting our nation, each of our states, and our communities, and has a disproportionate effect on our courts and justice system. As part of a National Initiative, the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators hosted a Midwest Regional Summit in October 2019 in Deadwood, South Dakota. Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne M. Burke and Illinois State Court Administrator Marcia Meis assembled and led an Illinois delegation at the Summit. 

Join us online for this in-depth look at how to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the intellectual property law practice.

You’ve heard about “implicit bias” and “microagression.” What about “microinvalidations” and “microinsults”? The cover story for December’s Illinois Bar Journal wades into these sensitive terms based on interviews with Dana and Keith Cutler, cohosts of the television show, Couples Court With the Cutlers. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office Central District of Illinois is accepting applications for an Assistant United States Attorney opening in its Criminal Division to be located in Urbana, IL. 

Applicants must be a United States citizen or national; submit to a background investigation, credit and tax checks, and drug test; be registered for selective service, if applicable; have a J.D. Degree; have at least three years post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience; and be active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).

The U.S. Attorney's Office Southern District of Illinois is accepting applications for an Assistant United States Attorney opening in its Criminal Division to be located in Benton, IL. 

Applicants must be United States citizens; submit to a background investigation, credit and tax checks, and drug test; be registered for selective service, if applicable; have a J.D. Degree; have at least one year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience; and be active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).

The ISBA offices will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26. The offices will resume normal business hours on Monday, November 29, at 8:30 a.m. 

On behalf of everyone at the ISBA, we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and safe holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Cloud computing has been a major breakthrough in the legal profession. Online file storage, backup systems, and legal case management and accounting systems have made the practice of law more efficient and information more easily accessible – to both attorneys and potential threats.