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Articles on bench & bar

Hon. Elizabeth K. Flood Circuit Judge Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Swearing-In Ceremony Address Delivered Dec. 10, 2021 By Hon. Elizabeh K. Flood Bench and Bar, May 2022 Hon. Elizabeth K. Flood's remarks from the December 10, 2021, swearing-in ceremony.
Oaths of Office Taken by Judge Elizabeth K. Flood and Judge Bianca Camargo: From the Swearing-in Ceremony and Reception for Judge Elizabeth K. Flood and Judge Bianca Camargo By Sandra Blake Bench and Bar, May 2022 Diversity and inclusion have become watchwords for the legal profession, and in Kane County, they serve as more than aspirations. The December 10 swearing-in ceremony and reception honoring Judge Bianca Camargo and Judge Elizabeth K. Flood reminded all present of the strides being made.
The State of the Illinois Courts: What Is Happening in and Around Illinois Courtrooms (Despite the Pandemic) By Chief Justice Anne M. Burke Bench and Bar, May 2022 Remarks delivered by Chief Justice Anne M. Burke at the ISBA Bench and Bar Section & ILC Commission on Professionalism CLE presentation on March 8, 2022.
A Conversation With Jayne Reardon, Retiring Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism By Judge Debra Walker Bench and Bar, March 2022 An interview about the future of the legal profession with Jayne Reardon, executive director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.
Keys to Increasing Your Prospects for Success in Mediation: Insights from Chief Circuit Mediator for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit By Edward Casmere Bench and Bar, March 2022 Highlights from a conversation with Joel Shapiro, chief circuit mediator for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Ethical Practices in the Email Age: Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2 and ‘Reply All’ Emails By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Elder Law, January 2022 As more and more legal communications are via email rather than carefully proofread letters, new ethical minefields are being discovered.
Illinois Supreme Court Lifts Its Pause Order Regarding Judicial Redistricting By Edward Casmere Bench and Bar, January 2022 In a summer move that caught many off guard, Illinois legislators passed Public Act 102-0011, changing the boundaries of the Illinois appellate court districts for the first time in over 55 years.
‘Are We Our Brother’s Keeper?’—Part 1: Incarceration, Supervision, and Crime in the United States By Elizabeth Bleakley Bench and Bar, November 2021 An overview of incarceration and other correctional supervision in the United States.
Ethical Practices in the Email Age: Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2 and ‘Reply All’ Emails By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Civil Practice and Procedure, November 2021 As more and more legal communications are via email rather than carefully proofread letters, new ethical minefields are being discovered.
Ethical Practices in the Email Age: Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2 and ‘Reply All’ Emails By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Bench and Bar, September 2021 As more and more legal communications are via email rather than carefully proofread letters, new ethical minefields are being discovered.
Impact of Daimler on Creditor’s Rights By Michael Cortina Bench and Bar, September 2021 A summary of the unintended consequences of Daimler AG v. Bauman, with a particular focus on its impact on the area of creditors’ rights in Illinois.
Justices Denied? Impact of the Judicial Districts Act on Incumbent Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court By Steven F. Pflaum & Andrew T. Hamilton Bench and Bar, September 2021 An overview of the Judicial Districts Act of 2021 and analysis of the constitutionality of its retention provisions.
50 Hyproverbs By Justice Michael Hyman Bench and Bar, July 2021 A list of "hyproverbs" that offer advice about the legal profession.
1 comment (Most recent August 11, 2021)
Illinois Supreme Court Sinks the ‘Test the Waters’ Doctrine By Edward Casmere Bench and Bar, July 2021 The Illinois Supreme Court recently decided whether the “test the waters” doctrine is a valid basis to deny a party’s motion for substitution of judge under section 2-1001 (a)(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Leadership, U.S. Presidents, & the University of Illinois College of Law By Judge Debra Walker & Andrea Fischer Bench and Bar, July 2021 The University of Illinois College of Law recently launched The Leadership Project to develop leadership skills in professionals in the legal field.
Ethical Practices in the Email Age: Courtesy Copy Emails to Judges By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Civil Practice and Procedure, May 2021 As the court system has evolved into the era of permitting emails to transmit courtesy copies of pleadings and motions, a troubling trend has ensued: Courtesy copy emails are being used to raise new arguments or make disparaging comments.
Ethical Practices in the Email Age: Courtesy Copy Emails to Judges By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Bench and Bar, May 2021 As the court system has evolved into the era of permitting emails to transmit courtesy copies of pleadings and motions, a troubling trend has ensued: Courtesy copy emails are being used to raise new arguments or make disparaging comments.
1 comment (Most recent June 7, 2021)
Information Overwhelm? How to Tailor Your ‘Media Diet’ to Stay Informed By Debra Pickett Elder Law, May 2021 Practical tips for managing the consumption of media.
Information Overwhelm? How to Tailor Your ‘Media Diet’ to Stay Informed By Debra Pickett Bench and Bar, March 2021 Practical tips for managing the consumption of media.
Expectations vs. Reality: Perspectives From a Summer Extern on the Strange Summer of 2020 By Lauren Eiten Bench and Bar, September 2020 The summer of 2020 has not gone as planned for anyone, summer externs included.
Split Decision By Michael G. Cortina Bench and Bar, September 2020 Before we answer the question of whether we can modify the rules and regulations to allow for the splitting of professional fees with non-professionals, we need to answer the more basic question of whether we should even try.
Time to Allow Possession of Cell Phones in Courthouses and Courtrooms By Evan Bruno Elder Law, August 2020  As part of its 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice plans to draft a uniform policy, to be presented to the Illinois Supreme Court, allowing greater use of cell phones in courthouses and encouraging adoption of a uniform policy statewide.
Litigants Unsuccessful in Invoking European Union’s Data Protection Regulation to Prohibit U.S. Discovery By Brittney L. Denley Bench and Bar, July 2020 Several recent U.S. cases have affirmed that the General Data Protection Regulation will not provide a safe harbor in which parties may seek refuge from U.S. litigation discovery obligations.
Time to Allow Possession of Cell Phones in Courthouses and Courtrooms By Evan Bruno Bench and Bar, July 2020  As part of its 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice plans to draft a uniform policy, to be presented to the Illinois Supreme Court, allowing greater use of cell phones in courthouses and encouraging adoption of a uniform policy statewide.
The Development of Qualified Immunity, How It Has Shielded Unprecedented Police Misconduct, and What Lies Ahead By Valerie Brummel Bench and Bar, June 2020 The recent death of George Floyd has sparked renewed advocacy for changes to laws that hinder the ability of victims of police misconduct to recover damages in civil lawsuits—most notably, the doctrine of qualified immunity.
If Not Section 137 Pleadings, How About Incivility Toward a Party? By Hon. Steve Pacey, (ret.) Bench and Bar, June 2020 A look at whether there is a case to be made that some pleadings are not very civil even if they fo not rise to the Rule 137 level.
Illinois Supreme Court Sculpts the Edges of the Collateral Source Rule in Class Action Economic Loss Case By Edward Casmere Bench and Bar, June 2020 The Illinois Supreme Court recently solidified the boundaries of the economic loss doctrine and the collateral source rule in a class action case asserting a civil conspiracy claim.
The Other Pandemic By Justice Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, June 2020 Lawyers are perfectly suited to find ways to dismantle systemic barriers, to promote inclusivity and diversity, to combat overt or explicit bias, to advocate for a legal system accessible to all, and to illuminate the nature of unconscious bias and address its root causes.
1 comment (Most recent July 15, 2020)
The Right of Confrontation: A Concept for the Ages By Hon. Jesse G. Reyes Bench and Bar, June 2020 With non-traditional avenues of providing justice on the rise, the question then becomes: Can trials be constitutionally conducted over remote video conferencing platforms where the participants will not be face-to-face?
Chicken Dinner Warrants Recusal? Not So Fast! By David W. Inlander & Ronald D. Menna, Jr. Commercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, April 2020 An analysis of judicial recusal.

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