Join us in Chicago on January 13, 2017 for a comprehensive look at how implicit racial bias impacts the criminal justice system, including through wrongful convictions based on false identification. Prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, and others who attend this seminar will better understand: how implicit bias negatively impacts individuals caught in the criminal justice system; how the misidentification of criminal suspects is often a result of witness bias; the purpose behind the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office; why, as attorneys, it’s important to recognize bias within ourselves; the reasons behind false confessions and how the law can help prevent it from happening; the professional ethics issues that can arise during false confession cases; and much more!

Starting today, the ISBA is bringing you Fastcase 7, the all-new version of Fastcase. Many members already access Fastcase for their legal research and are familiar with the features and smart search tools that help you find the results you’re searching for faster. Fastcase 7 is an even more fluid and easy-to-navigate online legal research library. It has all of the familiar features and tools, plus an enhanced Forecite, Tag Cloud, Authority Check and Bad Law Bot, more advanced search options, new results screen options, larger fonts and selections to make documents easier to read on computer screens, and new dual-column printing options.

Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Patrick T. Stanton as a Cook County Circuit Judge in the 3rd Subcircuit.

Mr. Stanton was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen Delehanty.

The appointment takes effect Jan. 1, 2017 and will conclude on Dec. 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the 2018 General Election.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman announced today the formation of a judicial screening committee for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

The screening committee was formed for the purpose of assessing the qualifications of those persons who have applied for appointment to the Office of Judge of the Circuit Court for the Fifth Judicial Circuit created by the resignation of Judge Claudia Anderson on November 30, 2016. Under the Illinois Constitution, the vacancy will be filled by Supreme Court appointment.

Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Fourth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Amanda S. Ade-Harlow as associate judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Ade-Harlow received her undergraduate degree in 2001 from the University of Illinois-Springfield in Springfield, Illinois and her Juris Doctor in 2003 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Ms. Ade-Harlow is currently affiliated with the Shelby County Public Defender's Office in Shelbyville, Illinois.

Are you ready to advise your clients on the changes to student discipline in Illinois? Illinois schools were required to implement the new student discipline changes no later than September 15, 2016, and attorneys representing families, students, and/or school districts need to understand how these changes may affect their clients. Join us via the Internet on December 15, 2016 for an in-depth look at these changes, including: how a group of Chicago students urged state lawmakers to support Senate Bill 100; what students and families can expect from the new revisions; which protections will be provided by the new law; how school districts will adopted these changes; the limitations of student discipline policies; and the ethical considerations that attorneys need to be aware of.

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's top Illinois Supreme Court Civil opinions in In re M.M., Bueker v. Madison County Illinois,  Beggs v. The Board of Education of Murphysboro Community Unit School District No. 186, Blanchard v. Berrios, Murphy-Hylton v. Lieberman Management Services, Inc. and Zahn v. North American Power & Gas, LLC.

In re M.M.

By Joanne R. Driscoll, Forde Law Offices LLP

This case raises the procedural question of whether, in the adjudication of an abuse and neglect petition, the court has the authority to appoint a guardian for the minor when there has been no finding that a parent is unfit, unable or unwilling to care for the child.  Answering the question “no,” the Illinois Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion, repudiated and overruled several cases that were in conflict.

Peter Rotskoff of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission shares tips on how to avoid fee disputes in criminal cases.

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's top Illinois Supreme Court Criminal opinions in People v. Matthews and People ex rel. Alvarez v. Gaughan.

People v. Matthews

By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender

Following an unsuccessful direct appeal and post-conviction petition, Jerrell Matthews filed a petition for relief from judgment pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-1401, alleging that a State witness had committed perjury at his trial.  The circuit court dismissed the petition on the basis that it was untimely.

The proof of service that Matthews filed with the petition said that the petition was mailed to the State with “proper first-class postage”