The Springfield State Journal-Register is reporting that opposition from the Illinois State Bar Association has stalled progress of HJRCA 29. The victims' rights amendment appeared headed for a place on the November ballot after clearing the Illinois Senate 55-1. Opposition from ISBA, Illinois state’s attorneys and Illinois public defenders associations gave legislators cause for concern.

A good state’s attorney will keep crime victims abreast of developments during trial, said Jim Covington, the bar association’s director of legislative affairs. But the amendment would have given victims and their lawyers more input in the courtroom.

Under the amendment, victims would have:

* The right to be heard at any post-arraignment court proceeding;

* Access to relevant documents relating to the defendant;

* Be considered if and when bail for the offender is being contemplated; and

* Have the ability to back up those rights in courts that have jurisdiction on the case.

Covington said it would be impractical to allow victims the right to be heard at any post-arraignment court proceeding.

“It would undermine the presumption of innocence if you add a third — someone besides the state and the defendant, a victim or his or her lawyer — involved in the case from that point forward,” Covington said.

Click here to read the full article

Read Rep. Jim Sacia's (R-Freeport) explanation of why he voted against HJRCA 29

Get the tools you need to effectively handle real estate tax protests and resolve bankruptcy issues in real estate transactions with this informative program in Lombard on May 11^th! Topics include: understanding the real estate tax bill; learning to deal with the tax assessor; how to file a real estate tax appeal; bankruptcy filing requirements and procedures; executory real estate contracts; the Bankruptcy Code’s Automatic Stay; and recent case law in bankruptcy cases involving real estate.

The program is presented by the ISBA Real Estate Law Section and co-sponsored by the ISBA Commercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy Section. The program qualifies for 6.0 hours of MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register.

Can’t attend the live program in Lombard?Visit http://isba.fastcle.com for access to the online recorded version of this program approximately 6 weeks after the program.

Election results are in and Jessica A. O'Brien of Chicago has won a contested race for a seat on the Illinois State Bar Association's Board of Governors. Electronic voting was again the preferred method of voting - this time by a greater than 10-1 margin (1,451 electronic; 123 written). All terms begin at the 2012 Annual Meeting.

Umberto S. Davi of Willowbrook was the previously announced winner in the uncontested race for 3rd Vice President. He will become president of ISBA in 2015 after serving a year in each of the three vice presidential posts. Five Board members ran uncontested: James F. McCluskey (Lisle); Lisa M. Nyuli (South Elgin); Sonni Choi Williams (Peoria); Charles Y. Davis (Springfield); and Russell K. Scott (Belleville).

Here are the Board and Assembly election results (winners in bold):

Board of Governors - Cook County - 1 to be elected

Mark L. Karno, Chicago            667
Jessica A. O’Brien, Chicago        811

Illinois State Bar Association Executive Director Robert E. Craghead has won a contested election for a two-year term on the board of the National Association of Bar Executives.

Craghead has spent his entire professional career with ISBA, from starting out as the Young Lawyers Association Director to the past 18 years as Executive Director. He was the 2003 recipient of the NABE Bolton Award for Professional Excellence.

The National Association of Bar Executives, an affiliate of the American Bar Association, was founded in 1941 to serve the management staff of bar associations and law-related organizations.

About 100 lawyers and judges attended a cocktail reception for the Prairie State Legal Services Law Day event held at the Rockford Art Museum. Illinois State Bar Association President John G. Locallo, the keynote speaker, talked about the importance of lawyer pro bono work and his recent trip to Washington to encourage legislators to support increased funding of Legal Services Corp.

President Locallo (right) is shown with Mike O’Connor, executive director of Prairie State Legal Services.

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers HJRCA 29 (Victims' rights), Senate Bill 1808 (Eavesdropping) and House Bill 5434 (Post-judgment Collection of debts). More information on each bill is available below the video.

An Illinois legislative proposal would give members of a civil union the same benefits enjoyed by married couples under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Find out more in the May Illinois Bar Journal.

Early Booking Discount Extended! Save $500 per couple if you register by May 18!

Join President-elect John E. Thies and his wife Terry on the fall 2012 ISBA President’s Trip to China. Take a moment away from your busy day, close your eyes and picture yourself in a land steeped in thousands of years of history. Picture a place where the echoes of distant empires can still be heard above the urban roar of modern technology, where natural landscapes stand in stark and beautiful contrast to contemporary cityscapes. You are in a land rich in tradition and ripe with possibility.

See yourself in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Shanghai admiring the reflections of the city in the Huangpu River while strolling along the famous Bund. Listen to the chatter of colorful markets filled with unexpected treasures, savor the refined flavors of a dim sum lunch, and let the floral aromas of ancient gardens wash over you.