ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (Senate Bill 110), Bail bonds and release (House Bill 130), Driver’s licenses and child support (House Bill 128) and Transfer on Death Instruments (TODI) (House Bill 169). More information on the bill is available below the video.

(1) The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. Senate Bill 110 (Steans, D-Chicago) creates the Religious Freedom and Marriage Act that recognizes civil marriages between persons of the same sex. Just introduced. House Bill 110 (Harris, D-Chicago) is an identical bill.

(2) Bail bonds and release. House Bill 130 (Monique Davis, D-Chicago. If a first-time offender is charged with a non-violent offense, it requires the court to order the defendant released on his or her own recognizance unless the court makes a specific finding that a cash bond is necessary to secure the defendant’s appearance. The court may, in addition to any other conditions, order as a condition of release that the defendant be monitored under electronic surveillance. Just introduced.

Please join us in supporting this event to benefit the Illinois Bar Foundation/YLD Children’s Assistance Program.

• When: Saturday, March 9, 2013 from Noon to 4 p.m.
• Where: Lion Head Pub/The Apartment, 2251 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago (map and directions)
• What: Tailgate Party buffet and domestic and import bottled beer, mixed well drinks and wine.

One year ago today, Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride announced that the Illinois Supreme Court approved a pilot project that would allow news cameras and electronic news recordings in Illinois trial courtrooms for the first time ever.

During that time, 25 counties in nine judicial circuits across Illinois have participated in the pilot program, opening the trial courtrooms to news photographers and electronic news media to cover cases.

Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Wednesday that the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Christine A. Downs as an associate judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Downs received her undergraduate degree in 1994 from the University of Illinois and her Juris Doctor in 1997 from Loyola University in Chicago. Ms. Downs is currently affiliated with Collison & O'Connor, Ltd. in Chicago.

Two Central Illinois TV stations highlighted the Lawyers Feeding Illinois program in news reports last week. ISBA President John E. Thies led a group of local attorneys and bar leaders on a visit to the Central Illinois Food Bank in Springfield. The Lawyers Feeding Illinois competition begins Feb. 18 - but donate and sign your team up now at lawyersfeedingil.org

Video from WAND can be viewed at http://www.wandtv.com/global/Category.asp?c=182814&clipId=8193154&autostart=true

Video from WICS can be viewed at http://www.wics.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_9063.shtml

Chief Judge John T. Elsner has announced that the Court is accepting applications to fill a vacancy for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, DuPage County. The vacancy is a results of the elevation of Associate Judge Robert G. Kleeman to Circuit Judge.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the co-founder of an estate planning firm in Chicago. We have two associate attorneys, myself and my partner, and 6 support staff members. Our practice is limited to estate planning, estate administration, and elder law. Our marketing consists totally of referrals from other attorneys, past clients, and other referral sources. We believe that we have a successful practice with revenues consistently exceeding $1.8 million per year. We spend very little on business development and marketing. Should we be doing more?

Are your employees getting the tax relief they deserve? Are you? Should you process your own payroll? A CPA tells lawyers a thing or two about the financial side of running a practice in the February Illinois Bar Journal.

The Illinois State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division hosted its 3rd Professional Development Luncheon titled "Graduating to the Bench" on Jan. 15 at the Chicago Regional Office. Heather Pfeffer of Cassiday Schade served as moderator while Hon. Nancy J. Katz, Hon. Thomas L. Hogan, Albert E. Durkin and Hon. William E. Holdridge served as panelists.

Nominations are being accepted for ISBA awards that will be presented on June 21, 2013, at the Annual Awards Luncheon. Additional information is available at www.isba.org/awards