Illinois is one of only 10 states that do not define "reasonable doubt" for juries.

Illinois courts have a well-established precedent to refrain from defining for juries what "beyond a reasonable doubt" means. The principle also is baked into the Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions-Criminal, which informs trial courts to not provide a definition instruction, stating: "reasonable doubt is a term which needs no elaboration and we have so frequently discussed the futility of attempting to define it that we might expect the practice to be discontinued." 

Richard Zuckerman, a former member of the ISBA Board of Governors and a long-standing, active member of the ISBA Family Law Section, was installed as president of the Peoria County Bar Association on July 9, 2018. Pictured at the ceremony are ISBA 3rd Vice President Anna Krolikowska, Mr. Zuckerman, Peoria County Bar Association Immediate Past President Michele Miller, ISBA 2nd Vice President Dennis Orsey, ISBA President Elect David Sosin, and ISBA President James McCluskey.

The legal practice at the Administrative United States Penitentiary, located in Thomson, Ill., is seeking a senior Consolidated Legal Center (CLC) attorney. 

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least one year post-J.D. legal experience. 

Prior experience in correctional law is desired though not required. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office Central District of Illinois is accepting applications for an assistant United States attorney opening in its Criminal Division.

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least one year post-J.D. legal experience. U.S. citizenship is required.

Admission to the Illinois bar is not required but is preferred. Criminal prosecution experience is preferred.

Improve your trial skills in this “learn-by-doing” program that covers all phases of trial work from both a plaintiff/prosecutor and defendant’s viewpoint in both civil and criminal cases. Through this course, you will learn and practice new trial techniques that are most effective and consistent with the Illinois Rules of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Each session is audio-video taped so you can see and hear the improvements in your voice, manner, and trial technique. The course has been proven to be of value whether your practice includes trying jury and non-jury cases, administrative hearings, arbitrations, or even mediations. The course is taught and coordinated by Scott Lane and Fred Lane. Please note: As he did last semester, Scott Lane will continue in his role as the primary instructor during the fall semester.    

The Illinois Bar Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Illinois State Bar Association, will hold its 20th annual black-tie Gala fundraiser on Friday, October 19, at the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware Place, Chicago.

During the event, Tyrone C. Fahner, a partner at Mayer Brown, will receive the foundation’s 2018 Distinguished Award for Excellence. Fahner is a former Illinois attorney general and has served as director of the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement and as an assistant United States attorney.  

Lisa M. Nyuli, partner at Ariano Hardy Ritt Nyuli Richmond Lytle & Goettel P.C., discusses how to plan in advance of a sudden disability or death. 

The Jersey County Courthouse received a reproduction of a famous Abraham Lincoln photograph today.

The ceremony was part of a statewide campaign to place a framed copy of the famed photograph in a courthouse in each of Illinois’ 102 counties in commemoration of the state’s bicentennial.

The photograph was taken in Springfield by well-known photographer Alexander Hesler on June 3, 1860, for Lincoln’s 1860 presidential campaign. Printed on canvas, the image of the beardless Lincoln is encased in a richly stained wood frame and measures 30-inches wide by 40-inches tall.

Asked and Answered 

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q. I am the owner of a six-attorney litigation firm in the San Francisco Bay area. I am 60 years old and starting to consider gradually transferring my interest to associates in the firm. I have heard other attorneys mention that I should get some goodwill out of my practice. I would appreciate your thoughts.

A. Many law firm owners prefer to leave a legacy and keep the firm "within the family." They transition the firm to non-equity partners or associates in the firm at a discounted value, and buy-in as an incentive to stay on with the firm. 

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 June 2018 there were more than 900 referrals given.

Here are the results for June 2018: