Articles From Alfred M. Swanson, Jr.

Meet the New Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, (ret.) Bench and Bar, October 2022 When Justice Mary Jane Theis becomes the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, she has three main goals in mind.
An Interview With the Chief Justice By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, November 2019 Justice Anne Burke has set some very clear goals for her three-year term as Illinois’ 121st chief justice.
Justice Karmeier Retires By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, November 2019 A look at Justice Lloyd Karmeier's accomplishments.
The Longest Serving Illinois Judge Retires By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, (ret.) Bench and Bar, August 2019 Judge Matoesian entered judicial service on November 19, 1965, and served in Madison and Bond counties until his retirement—the longest tenure of any active judge in Illinois.
Meet Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, (ret.) Bench and Bar, July 2019 On July 1, Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer became the first woman to be chief judge in the 200-year history of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
A life in the law: George N. Leighton, 1912-2018 By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, June 2018 A tribute to George N. Leighton, 1912-2018.
Marcia Meis – New Director of the Administrative Office By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, November 2017 Learn more about the new Director and the projects on her agenda.
Michael Tardy retires as Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, August 2017 After 41 years working for the court system, Michael Tardy is ready for a change.
Do corporations need an attorney in administrative review hearings? By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, March 2017 The Supreme Court, in Stone Street Partners, LLC, v. The City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings, specifically declined to decide whether a corporation must be represented at an administrative hearing by a licensed attorney.
The Supreme Court moves proactively on attorney malpractice insurance and liability issues By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, February 2017 In an amendment to Rule 756 that took effect January 25, 2017, the Supreme Court will, starting in 2018, require lawyers to answer questions about their professional liability insurance every other year at the time they renew their authorization to practice law.
An interview with Justice Garman By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret). Bench and Bar, November 2016 Now that her term as Chief Justice has ended, Justice Garman feels “very good at how the Illinois courts have moved forward” on her goals.
An interview with the Chief Justice By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret). Bench and Bar, November 2016 When he started practicing law 52 years ago, Lloyd Karmeier never imagined being an appellate court judge, let alone a Supreme Court Justice.
Criminal trials in Britain By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr.(Ret.) Bench and Bar, September 2016 Retired Judge Alfred Swanson recently observed a courtroom in Oxford, England and reports on how the proceedings differ from our own in Illinois.
Hon. Louis Garippo—“A great Judge, but a greater man” By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, June 2016 Remembering Judge Garippo, who died at age 84 following a long illness.
McHenry County Circuit Court moves away from paper By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, May 2016 Judges in the 19th Circuit are beginning to move away from paper to a completely electronic docket management system.
For Fourth Amendment purposes, the expectation of privacy extends outside the front door of an apartment into the adjacent common area By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, April 2016 A discussion of the recent case of People v. Burns.
The relation back doctrine trumps the medical malpractice statute of repose By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, April 2016 The question facing the First District was whether the medical malpractice statute of repose prohibited the relation back doctrine from allowing the plaintiff to add a wrongful death claim under the Wrongful Death Act to an existing lawsuit.
Jorge Ortiz – New Lake County Chief Judge By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr., (Ret.) Bench and Bar, December 2015 Judge Ortiz is passionate about being a judge and part of the judicial system.
Joseph Tybor, 1947-2015 By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr., (Ret.) Bench and Bar, December 2015 Remembering Joe Tybor's contributions to the Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois judiciary in his 17 years as Director of Communications for the Court.
Judge Paul Biebel shaped criminal court By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, July 2015 Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr. retired on July 6, 2015, after 19 years on the Circuit Court of Cook County. He spent 14 of those years as Presiding Judge of the Criminal Court.
2 comments (Most recent July 16, 2015)
Judge James Holderman retires By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, May 2015 Now, 30-years and one month after his swearing in, Judge Holderman is retiring as a Judge, but not retiring from the legal profession. He is joining one of the mediation and arbitration services where he hopes to continue helping people resolve their disputes.
Judicial candidates still cannot solicit campaign contributions By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, May 2015 The bottom line for judges and judicial candidates in Illinois remains: they may not personally solicit contributions to fund their campaigns. Rather, they must continue to rely upon committees to do the money begging for them.
Illinois Supreme Court announces two changes to Extended Media Coverage Policy By Joseph R. Tybor & Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, April 2015 Click here to learn more about the new significant changes.
From writing fiction to fact—A profile of Justice David Ellis By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, March 2015 Learn more about this dynamic author and Justice on the Appellate Court.
Illinois Supreme Court raises filing fees for reviewing courts in Illinois By Joseph R. Tybor & Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. (Ret.) Bench and Bar, January 2015 On January 1, 2015, filing fees for reviewing courts in Illinois doubled. This is the first increase in filing fees since 1957.
Judicial pet peeves By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. Bench and Bar, August 2014 A compilation of frequently cited irritants.
Courts Commission removes Cook County Judge By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. Bench and Bar, June 2014 On May 9, 2014, the Courts Commission issued a unanimous opinion that removed Judge Cynthia Brim from office.
Judge William Maddux retires By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. Bench and Bar, January 2014 Judge William Maddux retired effective January 11, 2014, after 23 years as a Circuit Court Judge.
Reporter of Decisions has retired after nearly three decades of service to the Supreme Court By Joseph Tybor & Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. Bench and Bar, January 2014 Brian Ervin began working for the Supreme Court in 1986, and retired effective January 1, 2014 after 27 years of service.
An interview with the Chief Justice By Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. Bench and Bar, November 2013 Learn more about Rita Garman, who became the  119th Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court on  October 26, 2013.

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