Illinois State Bar Association | The Association for Illinois Lawyers

LIVE WEB - Pre-Trial Fairness Act: A Judicial Perspective

February 4, 2026

Presented by the ISBA Criminal Law Section

Live Webcast
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
12:00 – 1:05 p.m.

1.0 hour MCLE credit

The key provisions of the Pre-Trial Fairness Act are that it abolishes money bail, offers individualized assessments, limits pretrial detention, requires law enforcement to issue notices to appear for low-level offenses, and ensures due process. Although the Act was passed by the Illinois legislature in January 2021, it didn’t go into effect until September 2023. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen as two Illinois trial judges offer their perspectives on the Pre-Trial Fairness Act and how it’s been going since its enactment two years ago.

Program Coordinator/Chat Moderator:
Sara Vig, Vig Law P.C., Springfield

Program Speakers:
Hon. Brett N. Olmstead, 6^th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Joseph C. Pedersen, 23^rd Judicial Circuit

For best practices, before attending the program using ISBA's Zoom platform, please visit our Technical Support page.

Program Information

Fees:
- ISBA Member - $35
  - ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
- Non-Member - $70
- New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
- Law Student Members - Free
- Special pricing is available for Legal Service Attorneys.
If you cannot attend the live web event, a full refund is available, if you cancel your registration up to the start of the live web event on the program page in your “My CLE Account”.

Please Note: MCLE credit is available to registrants only on the day of this live event – and you must attend the entire program to earn MCLE credit. All registrants will receive access to a recording of the event a few days after the program, but credit is NOT available for the recording.

Read more about LIVE WEB - Pre-Trial Fairness Act: A Judicial Perspective

LIVE WEB - Unconscious Bias in Judicial Appointments: Barriers to Diversity in the Illinois Judiciary

January 30, 2026

Presented by ISBA’s Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law
Co-presented by the ISBA Human & Civil Rights Section and the Diversity Leadership Council

Live Webcast
Friday, January 30, 2026
2:00 – 3:35 p.m.

1.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50* hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category : Diversity & Inclusion credit

Don’t miss this timely and impactful seminar that examines the diversity issues facing the Illinois judiciary, as well as the unconscious biases that can hinder minority candidates seeking judicial appointments. This program uses candid dialogue, data-driven analysis, and insights from attorneys and judges to shed light on the invisible barriers that shape judicial selection and to explore pathways toward a more equitable and inclusive bench. Attorneys will all levels of practice experience who attend this online program will better understand:

How unconscious bias operates within the judicial appointment process;
What legal professionals, institutions, and stakeholders can do to confront and dismantle unconscious bias;
How implicit attitudes and institutional culture can influence decision-making in judicial appointments, particularly to the detriment of minority aspirants; and
How the structures, traditions, and practices of judicial appointments in Illinois may reinforce unequal access or outcomes.

The program concludes with an interactive breakout session in which attendees discuss possible reform proposals, best practices, how to foster greater inclusivity and fairness in the judicial selection process, and more.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Hon. Junaid Mustafa Afeef, Administrative Law Judge, Illinois Department of Public Health

Program Chat Moderator:
Paloma Holloman, Principal, PHM Law, LLC, Warrenville

Program Speakers:
Hon. Patrice Ball-Reed , Circuit Court of Cook County
Deanie Brown , Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
Hon. Vincent F. Cornelius , 12^th Judicial Circuit Court
Hon. Michael B. Hyman , Illinois Appellate Court 1 ^st District
Hon. Sonni Choi Williams , 12^th Judicial Circuit Court

*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval

For best practices, before attending the program using ISBA's Zoom platform, please visit our Technical Support page.

Program Information

Fees:
- ISBA Member - $53
  - ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
- Non-Member - $105
- New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
- Law Student Members - Free
- Special pricing is available for Legal Service Attorneys.
If you cannot attend the live web event, a full refund is available, if you cancel your registration up to the start of the live web event on the program page in your “My CLE Account”.

Please Note: MCLE credit is available to registrants only on the day of this live event – and you must attend the entire program to earn MCLE credit. All registrants will receive access to a recording of the event a few days after the program, but credit is NOT available for the recording.

Read more about LIVE WEB - Unconscious Bias in Judicial Appointments: Barriers to Diversity in the Illinois Judiciary