The Illinois Supreme Court announced yesterday findings from a judicial decision-making study undertaken by the Supreme Court Committee on Equality. The results found that implicit biases are present and impact outcomes depending on the race, gender, poverty, and legal representation status of hypothetical parties. Factors such as adverse working conditions were also found to have a potential affect on a judge's ability to deliver consistent, unbiased decisions. 

The statewide study, completed by the majority of Illinois judges, was developed and analyzed by the American Bar Foundation with researchers Dr. Andrea Miller and Dr. Robert Nelson. Designed to analyze the approaches to judicial decision-making and the considerations that influence outcomes of those decisions, an online questionnaire involving hypothetical court cases assessing judicial decision-making in different areas of law was first distributed in November 2016 with data collection from all circuit courts concluding in April 2017. In all, 619 of the 901 circuit court judges in Illinois completed the survey.

Another year is almost over, but our member-only Lenovo deals just keep getting better and better! All month long, feast on instant savings up to 44% off legendary Think and Lenovo technologies, accessories, and more!

The deadline for making lodging reservations at the Palmer House Hilton for the 2017 Midyear Meeting, which will be held Dec. 7– 9 in Chicago, has been extended through Monday, Nov. 13. Our conference rate for 2017 is $179 for single or double occupancy, plus applicable taxes. Reservations at the Palmer House Hilton may be made online.

Reservations received after the Nov. 13 deadline will be subject to availability. The deposit will be forfeited for all no-shows, early departures, and cancellations less than 72 hours prior to arrival.

Additional information about this year's Midyear Meeting, including a meeting overview, schedule, CLE offerings, and business meeting schedule, is available on the website.

The ISBA Assembly has revised the policy on the selection of ISBA delegates to the ABA House of Delegates. As a result, two new at-large positions have been created, and the Assembly will elect members to fill these positions at the December 9, 2017meeting.

The nominees for these positions must be members of the ISBA who are in good standing and from the appropriate area. One will be from Cook County and one from the area outside Cook County. Both will serve for one-year terms commencing immediately, and the delegates will be part of the ISBA delegation at the February 2018 ABA Midyear Meeting and the August 2018 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Nominations must be made in writing by at least 20 ISBA members in good standing from the appropriate area. Nominations must be filed with the office of the executive director not later than Friday, November 17, 2017. 

Questions about the nominating petition may be directed to the ISBA executive director’s office by contacting Kim Weaver by e-mail or calling 800.252.8908.

At the December 9, 2017 ISBA Assembly meeting, two “Under 35” Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates will be elected, one from Cook County and one from the area outside Cook County. 

The nominees for these positions must be members of the ISBA who are in good standing and from the appropriate area. The elected delegates will serve for two-year terms commencing June, 2018 and will join the ISBA delegation at the ABA meeting in Chicago in August 2018.

The outside Cook County position has recently become vacant, and Cory White, who is the incumbent for the Cook County position, is eligible for reelection.

Nominations must be made in writing by at least 20 ISBA members in good standing from the appropriate area. Nominations must be filed with the office of the executive director no later than Friday, November 17, 2017. 

Questions about the nominating petition may be directed to the ISBA executive director’s office by contacting Kim Weaver by e-mail or calling 800.252.8908.

Robert C. Nelson of Nelson & Nelson discusses the average weekly wage, a critical workers' compensation issue that determines how much money a person receives while they are off work.

ISBA hosted its CLE program, Anatomy of a Medical Negligence Trial, on Wedenesday, Nov. 1, at the Chicago Regional Office. This full-day seminar, moderated by Brian Murphy of Hofeld and Schaffner, offered the dual perspectives of plaintiff and defense attorneys for all stages of a medical negligence trial. ISBA President Hon. Russell Hartigan (ret.), Hon. Clare E. McWilliams of the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago, and Hon. Thomas V. Lyons of the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago delivered the final presentation as a panel offering an in-depth look at the trial process through the lens of the judiciary. 

On September 22, 2017, HB 2537 became Public Act 100-0520. It makes changes to the Code of Civil Procedure and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), which has been the subject of a major overhaul in the past few years. The law takes effect June 1, 2018.

One major change during the Act's first overhaul was to make it gender-neutral to better include same-sex marriages within the language of the statute. Some portions of the new law seem geared towards cleaning up remaining language that wasn't gender neutral. It also streamlines the process for name changes, rewrites the calculation for the duration of spousal maintenance, and raises the combined income ceiling for couples to whom the maintenance guidelines apply from $250,000 to $500,000.

Perhaps the biggest change in the new law appears in 750 ILCS 5/504, which involves the calculation of spousal maintenance and its duration. It also increases the gross-income ceiling for cases to which the guidelines apply from $250,000 per year to $500,000 per year.

Under the current math, the duration of maintenance is calculated based on five-year chunks of time. For instance, a marriage that lasted five years or less receives different treatment than one that lasted more than five but less than 10 years. Under the new law, calculating the duration of maintenance takes a more granular approach that seems more logical. For instance, it seems arbitrary that a one-day difference in filing for divorce can result in a doubling of the modifier used to determine how long a spouse will receive maintenance.

Find out more about P.A. 100-0520 in the November Illinois Bar Journal. 

Most attorneys face multi-party representation at some point in their careers, either by joinders, class actions, or collective actions. These situations host a myriad of potential conflicts – making it essential that you are familiar with the necessary steps for preserving privilege and avoiding the minefield that could erupt. Any attorney involved in litigation or multi-party representation with intermediate to advanced practice experience who attend this online seminar on November 28, 2017 will gain a clearer understanding of how to comply with the ethical rules in class action, collective action, and multi-party representation, including such things as conflict waivers, joint privileges, dealing with conflicts that arise, and the necessary paperwork involved.

The program is presented by the ISBA Labor & Employment Law Section. It qualifies for 2.0 hours MCLE credit, including 2.0 hours Professionalism, Civility or Legal Ethics Professional Responsibility MCLE (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.