Illinois voters are responsible for electing and retaining judges. To assist them in making informed decisions, ISBA provides information about the qualifications of judicial candidates and judges seeking retention. Lawyers who practice alongside candidates and judges are in a unique position to assess the professional qualities that are necessary for good judges. 

In anticipation of the March 20 primary election, judicial evaluations, poll results, candidate biographies, and information about Cook County's 15 subcircuits are now available.

• View results by county
• Results for all counties (except Cook) in one file
• Cook County Judicial Evaluations
• Cook County Narratives
• Information about Cook County Subcircuits

Every few years, the Illinois State Bar Association organizes an admission ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court. There are still spaces available to join ISBA members for admission to the Supreme Court of the United States on June 4, 2018, in Washington D.C.

A reception will be held at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel on Sunday, June 3, and on Monday, there will be a continental breakfast prior to the group admission ceremony at the United States Supreme Court Building.

To be eligible, you must be:

• An active lawyer member of the ISBA
• Admitted to practice for more than three years
• Have no adverse disciplinary action pronounced or in effect during that three-year period 

Interested applicants must complete the Application for Admission to Practice, which is available in the Application Packet on the ISBA Group Admission Ceremony page.

Contact Kim Weaver with any questions.

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 February 2018 there were over 800 referrals given.

Here are the results for February 2018:

The Bohemian Lawyers' Scholarship Fund, a a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, awards scholarships to students of Czech, Moravian, Ruthenian, Silesian or Slovak ancestry enrolled in an accredited law school in the greater Chicagoland area every April.Scholarships range from $2,500 to $5,000 and to date, 110 scholarships have been given.

Applications are now being accepted for a judicial vacancy in the Thirteenth Subcircuit of Cook County, according to an announcement made by the Illinois Supreme Court. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Circuit Judge Margarita Kulys Hoffman, which took effect December 31, 2017.

The Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International - Chicago Alumni Chapter (CAC) is hosting it's annual St. Patrick's Day Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 15 at Petterino's Restaurant in Chicago. Attendees will enjoy Irish fare, a cash bar, and live music provided by Chicago Alumni Chapter Board Member Charlie McCarthy and Seanchie. 

Tables, which include 10 tickets and reserved seating, are $370. Tickets for CAC members and guests are $40 before March 9, or if received after or at the door, $50. Students can purchase tickets for a discounted price of $25 on or before March 5, or $30 at the door. The ticket order form includes additional details.

For further information, please contact Chicago Alumni Chapter Vice Justice Genevieve Niemann by e-mail or by phone at (217) 653-7098.

Receiving a letter from the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission can be a nerve-wracking experience. Embarrassment, anger, and fear are all natural responses, but there is no need for panic.

Spring savings are blooming at Lenovo. Refresh your technology all month long with instant savings of up to $450 off great Lenovo devices. 

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William A. Price of GrowthLaw.com discusses how to help your client buy or sell a business.

Late last year, President Trump signed the GOP's tax bill into law. While it has been lauded in some circles as a welcome tax break for American workers and businesses, changes to the tax code will make getting divorced more expensive for maintenance payors by removing a deduction in place since 1942.

Beginning on January 1, 2019, former spouses that pay maintenance will not be able to deduct the payments from their taxes. This change only applies to orders or settlements signed after January 1, 2019.

Under the new tax law, not only will maintenance payors be unable to deduct the payments from their taxes, payees will not have to report the money as income. This will change the calculations under Illinois's new maintenance statute, which are based on the gross incomes of both spouses.