Jamison Fisher could be on the move. The attorneys for the man accused of abducting and murdering Trudy Appleby, 11, in 1996 filed a change-of-venue motion claiming media coverage and social media-fueled rumors have made it impossible for Fisher to get a fair trial in Henry County.

From: 
Belleville News-Democrat

Fred Lane’s Trial Techniques Institute – Spring Semester 2026

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Marybeth Stanziola

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.

ISBA Website Services Update

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Marybeth Stanziola

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) is in the process of converting to a new association management system (AMS). Our AMS is the membership database that serves as the backbone for most of our technology systems.  

As of Friday, February 6, 2026, all CLE programming and the ISBA bookstore are back online. 

Early voting and vote-by-mail in Peoria County are on hold as election officials here wait for an appellate court decision that could impact ballots. The Peoria County Election Commission has announced it will not begin early voting as scheduled due to ongoing litigation involving a Republican candidate for governor.

From: 
Yahoo News

The Leland Grove police chief was placed on administrative leave after being arrested on DUI and domestic battery charges early Thursday morning. Leland Grove Mayor Mary Jo Bangert confirmed Chief Daniel Ryan's arrest to WAND News. She said Ryan was immediately placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.

From: 
WAND News

The Illinois Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ruling that Grain Belt Express (GBX) did not demonstrate sufficient financing for a proposed multi-state transmission line that crosses nine Illinois counties and remanded the rest of the case back to the appellate court.

From: 
Heartland Media Group

Amid a flurry of lawsuits filed in federal court against the Trump administration, Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office won a historic first in Illinois last month by successfully trying the state’s first civil hate crime lawsuit.

From: 
Capitol News Illinois

An indictment against a Granite City man accused of murdering his brother in October was made public. Franklin Smart Jr. was attacked Sept. 29 with a "long-handled gardening tool" and died about two weeks later in a St. Louis hospital.

From: 
Belleville News-Democrat

The Candidate Report for the 2026 ISBA Election is available. All members of the Association (except non-lawyer members) with their dues paid by March 2, 2026, are eligible to vote.

From: 
The Bar News