A new law designed to reform Illinois’ public defense system is still in the planning phase. The Funded Advocacy and Independent Representation Act, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in August, creates a commission and common public defender’s office over the course of two years.

From: 
Northern Public Radio

Illinois has enacted significant amendments to the Workplace Transparency Act, effective January 1, 2026, that will materially affect employment, separation, and settlement agreements with Illinois employees, applicants, contractors, and consultants.

From: 
The National Law Review

The law firm Goldberg Segalla was defending the Chicago Housing Authority in a 2022 lawsuit that accused the agency of sickening two children with lead poisoning at a Rogers Park apartment building.

From: 
Chicago Sun-Times

What’s in the File?

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Marybeth Stanziola

The need to obtain school student records may arise in everything from dissolution of marriage proceedings to general civil litigation and administrative proceedings, such as grievance proceedings involving school staff, observes Christian Ketter in his December Illinois Bar Journal article, “What’s in the File?” But Ketter notes the Illinois School Student Records Act ensures that a student’s individually identifiable information remains insulated from those contexts.

Multiple cities and villages in Lake County, along with the state, have been awarded $120 million following a lawsuit against Monsanto over the contamination of PCBs in the area.

From: 
Lake & McHenry County Scanner

“This past legislative session delivered some big wins for Illinoisans that will make a real difference in their everyday lives,” Giannoulias said. “These laws move us closer to our goals of making our roads safer, ensuring our libraries have the tools they need to serve their communities and creating a more efficient and responsive government.”

From: 
RiverBender.com

After several stateline sheriffs call for changes to the SAFE-T Act, politicians agree some things need to be fixed, but that’s where agreements end.

From: 
WIFR

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office has arrested Carrie Kelley, 43, of Sparta, Illinois on Friday. The sheriff's office said Kelley faces charges including two counts of theft of property over $1,000,000, one count of wire fraud, and four counts of fraudulent filing of Illinois income tax.

From: 
WSIL

The cars and pickup trucks from Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Indiana and Mississippi started arriving early in the morning at the Alamo Women’s Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois.

From: 
Belleville News-Democrat

Illinois Supreme Court Recalls and Assigns Hon. Mark Clarke to Fifth District Appellate Court

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Marybeth Stanziola

Justice David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the recall and assignment of the Honorable Mark H. Clarke (ret.) to the Fifth District Appellate Court.

Judge Clarke is being assigned to fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Justice James R. Moore, effective December 31, 2025. The assignment of Judge Clarke is effective January 27, 2026, and will conclude on December 4, 2028.