Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. was honored yesterday, July 29, as the recipient of the William H. Hastie Award by the National Bar Association at the 2026 Thurgood Marshall Awards Luncheon in Nashville, Tennessee. Presented by the NBA’s Judicial Council, the award recognizes excellence in legal and judicial scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to justice and the rule of law.

From: 
The Bar News

ISBA’s Solo & Small Firm Conference 2026: From Log Cabin to Legacy: Growing and Sustaining a Solo or Small Firm in Illinois

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Marybeth Stanziola

Join us for ISBA’s 2026 Solo & Small Firm Conference, “From Log Cabin to Legacy,” a two‑day, in‑person event designed to bring Illinois solo and small firm attorneys together. Hosted at the Pere Marquette in the historic city of Peoria, this program delivers actionable CLE, real‑world insights, and the tools you need to help you build, grow, and sustain a lasting legal practice. Whether you’re launching your first law firm or focused on strengthening an established law business, you’ll gain the best practice tips and strategies for every stage of your professional journey.

Chief Justice P. Scott Neville to Receive Prestigious Hastie Award at Thurgood Marshall Awards Luncheon

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Marybeth Stanziola

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., will be honored today, July 29, as the recipient of the William H. Hastie Award by the National Bar Association (NBA) at the 2026 Thurgood Marshall Awards Luncheon in Nashville, Tennessee. Presented by the NBA’s Judicial Council, the award recognizes excellence in legal and judicial scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to justice and the rule of law.

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told James Lebuhn that “if we allow folks to just do what they want and threaten people in order to get the outcome that they want, that will ruin democracy faster really than anything we can do.”

From: 
Chicago Sun-Times

Students in all Illinois public schools will soon have to abide by rules barring them from using cellphones or other personal electronic communication devices during school hours unless they have been given specific permission to use them.

From: 
Capitol News Illinois

Two teachers unions have filed a lawsuit against Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, alleging she is not distributing millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to schools and that students are being harmed as a result.

From: 
ABC 7 Chicago