The Illinois State Bar Association, The Appellate Lawyers Association, the Chicago Bar Association and the Women's Bar Association will host a luncheon honoring Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman on Dec. 11. The event will begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m. and a luncheon at noon at the Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court in Chicago.

Tickets are $65 a person and $650 for a table of 10. Contact Tamra Drees at tdrees@chicagobar.org or (312) 554-2057.

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Friday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil case In re Karavidas and the criminal case People v. Trzeciak.

CRIMINAL

People v. Trzeciak

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

ISBA President Paula H. Holderman speaks with Pam Kuzniar, chair of the ISBA's Family Law Section Council and its CLE coordinator. The ISBA Family Law Section has been hard at work on the complete review and overhaul of both the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution Act (House Bill 1452) and the Illinois Parentage Act. Watch the video to learn how these changes could impact your practice.

Mary Andreoni of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission has heard the question before. "What do I do if my laptop is stolen and there's confidential information on there -- the client's name, address, maybe their medical records, their financial records?'"

The answer is straightforward. "The lawyer has an obligation to notify those clients," Andreoni said. Find out more in the November Illinois Bar Journal.

The Illinois Supreme Court is appreciative of the attendance today of key stakeholders of Cook County and the Cook County justice system for substantive discussions on how we might all work together to enhance the administration of justice.

The Court also is grateful for the presence of Chief Judge Eric T. Washington of the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals, and Tim Murray, executive director of the Pretrial Justice Institute, for helping to facilitate this morning's discussion. Finally, the Court thanks Retired Illinois Chief Justice Ben K. Miller and Retired U.S. District Court Judge David H. Coar for their attendance and for their willingness to ensure that all of us move forward toward a common goal.

Daniel L. Houlihan, of Wilmette, formerly of Beverly, and summer resident of Long Beach, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday night. Dan was a prominent zoning attorney who began his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney, served as an Illinois State Representative and longtime Legislative Counsel for ISBA.

Dan was a long-standing Board of Director Member for Misericordia Heart of Mercy, and a member of Catholic Charities Advisory Board.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 15 from 2:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Boulevard at Old Orchard Road, Skokie.  Funeral will be held on Saturday, November 16 at 10:00 AM at St. Francis Xavier Church, 9th and Linden, Wilmette.

Paula H. Holderman (second from right), president of the Illinois State Bar Association, was one of four speakers at a November 7 Chicago Bar Association seminar at the CBA headquarters themed “Lessons in Leadership: A Conversation with Female Bar Presidents.” With Ms. Holderman in the photo are three former CBA presidents (seated, from left) Terri Mascherin, Aurora Abella-Austriaco and Appellate Court Justice Joy Cunningham. Standing are the event’s moderators Deidre Baumann and Michele Jochner. The panelists discussed their backgrounds, how they prepared for their leadership roles, advancement opportunities in the profession, the gender-equity pay issue, work-life balance and their personal definitions of success.

Asked and Answered

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q. I am the managing partner of a 12-lawyer firm in Rochester, Minnesota. I am in my early 50s. Two of my partners are in their 60s and two are in their 70s. None of them want to discuss retirement - in fact they jokingly state that they would like to work forever. Do you have any thoughts regarding encouraging/motivating senior partners to embrace retirement?

The legalization of medical marijuana affects a broad range of legal practices – from those attorneys counseling hospitals, physicians, practice groups, and clinics, to attorneys representing patients wishing to use medical marijuana, businesses employing medical marijuana users, and entities seeking dispensary licenses. Join us in Chicago or via live webcast on Friday, Dec. 6 for a better understanding of: The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act; the rights of and constraints on patients for the purchase, possession and use of medical marijuana; how and when physicians will be able to recommend cannabis for their patients; the scope of forthcoming regulations; how the legal use of medical cannabis will affect employers; and how health care facilities can accommodate or restrict the use of medical marijuana.

The seminar is presented by the ISBA Health Care Section and qualifies for 1.75 hours MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register for the CHIGAGO program.

Click here for more information and to register for the LIVE WEBCAST.