Section Newsletters

Articles on Child Law

Illinois Ranks Low on Provision of Human Rights for Kids By Elizabeth Clarke Child Law, November 2020 Although Illinois is the home of the world’s first juvenile court, it lags far behind other developed nations.
Making Juvenile Justice ‘Just’ By Judge Ramon Ocasio, III Child Law, November 2020 For members of the bar and the judiciary, current events have provided us with an opportunity to initiate and to contribute to a conversation about juvenile justice.
Transformation in Illinois’ Department of Juvenile Justice By Deanna Hoyt Child Law, November 2020 Thanks to investment in community alternatives and legislative reforms, the population of youths in juvenile prisons has gone down significantly.
What Can I Do? By George W. Timberlake Child Law, November 2020 Judges and community stakeholders alike have been energized by the attention paid to the Black Lives Matter movement in our country. In dozens of states people are asking, “What can I do now?”
Modern Families in Family Law By Meg Ledebuhr Child Law, October 2020 Illinois is far ahead of many other states when it comes to the law surrounding assisted reproductive technology. Yet, even in Illinois, many aspects of the law concerning assisted reproduction remain unclear.
Probate Guardianship and Domestic Relations Allocation: A Case Study on Intersecting Aspects of Parental Responsibility for Children By Cristina Rizen Child Law, October 2020 An analysis of a case involving a nonparent relative caregiver.
CASA’s Inaugural Hands Across Illinois Event By Missy Greathouse Child Law, June 2020 Child abuse and neglect awareness is needed now more than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family Justice Resource Center Helps to Reunite Families Facing Misplaced Abuse Claims By Diane Redleaf, Michelle Weidner, & Colette Safford Child Law, June 2020 With the help of the Family Justice Resource Center, lawyers now have an invaluable resource to help exonerate clients who have been wrongfully accused of abuse and neglect based on incorrect medical evidence.
Survey of Law: The Right to Counsel for Indigent Parents in Child Welfare Cases By Joanna Wells Child Law, June 2020 A look at the patchwork of statutes, caselaw, and practices in the years since the U.S. Supreme Court decided Lassiter v. Department of Social Services. 
Case Law Updates By Susan Goldberg Child Law, March 2020 Summaries of recent cases of interest to child law practitioners.
A Case Note on Arika M. v. Christopher M. By Jared A. Giuffre Child Law, January 2020 In Arika M. v. Christopher M., the appellate court established whether 750 ILCS 5/606.5(c) or 735 ILCS 5/8-2601 applies to child hearsay statements during an order of protection hearing when an alleged abuser is a parent of the child.
A Case Note on In re Marriage of Elliott By Hon. Randall B. Rosenbaum Child Law, January 2020 The appellate court addressed two main issues in In re Marriage of Elliott: 1) Whether the husband should have been held in indirect civil contempt; and 2) whether the new or old child support law applied to a modification proceeding.
An Overview of the Guardian Ad Litem Training Presented by the ISBA Child Law Section Council By Robert Ackerly Child Law, January 2020 An overview of the Child Law Section's two-day CLE program for aspiring and veteran child representatives and guardians ad litem in October.
Shifting Perspective: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma By Susan M. Brazas Goldberg Child Law, January 2020 Attorneys and judges who work with children in domestic relations and juvenile court matters will find it helpful to keep abreast of the shift in perception about the behavior of at-risk children and youth.
Spotlight on Child Law Section Counsel Chair Marc Bangser By Bridget Schott Child Law, January 2020 A spotlight on Marc Bangser, chair of the Child Law Section Council.
Whose Interest Is It, Anyway? A Case Note on In re J.C. By Hon. Robert J. Anderson Child Law, January 2020 A summary of In re J.C., which looks at whether a parent can call a child as a witness in a hearing on a petition to terminate parental rights.
How Applicable Is the Decision of In re Marriage of Salvatore? Only Time and Future Appeals Will Tell By Amy Silberstein Child Law, August 2019 The appellate court recently decided in In re Marriage of Salvatore that the full-time employment of your formerly unemployed ex-spouse does not constitute a substantial change in circumstances for purposes of modifying child support.
An Overview of the Illinois’ Gestational Surrogacy Act By Jared Guiffre Child Law, August 2019 Illinois is one of the few states in the country that have a Surrogacy Act, under which intended parents and surrogates enter into an agreement that results in intended parents being the child’s legal parents without an adoption needing to be filed and approved.
Two New Bills Affecting Immigrant Children Signed Into Law By Rebehak Rashidfarokhi Child Law, August 2019 Summaries of two bills affecting the rights of immigrant children in Illinois that were recently signed into law.
The Germanic system of justice: Learning about an approach focused on human dignity By Elizabeth Clarke International and Immigration Law, July 2019 An overview of Germany's approach to juvenile justice and how it compares to Illinois'.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Protecting abused, abandoned, or neglected immigrant children By Hillary Richardson Child Law, May 2019 In light of recent increased immigration raids and enforcement, it is more important than ever for immigrant families to have competent legal screenings to assess for relief from deportation.
The Germanic system of justice: Learning about an approach focused on human dignity By Elizabeth Clarke Child Law, April 2019 An overview of Germany's approach to juvenile justice and how it compares to Illinois'.
Raising ‘free-range children’: The role of substitute care By Leah Douglas Child Law, April 2019 This article uses "free-range parenting" as a backdrop for a critique on how families get tangled in a system often unresponsive to the needs of children despite its mission of protecting them.
Why working in child law really matters (and how I got my start) By Judge Robert J. Anderson Child Law, April 2019 Judge Robert Anderson reflects on his work in child law.
The Juvenile Defender Pilot Program By Elizabeth Clarke & Mark Hassakis Child Law, February 2019 An overview of the Juvenile Defender Pilot Program.
Legal memorandum regarding a non-parent’s petition for allocation of parental responsibilities By Athina Pentsou Child Law, February 2019 A look at whether a third party may file a petition for allocation of parental responsibilities under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
New rule eliminating indiscriminate shackling of children working well By Elizabeth Clarke Child Law, May 2018 A year ago, the Illinois Supreme Court issued Rule 943 to end indiscriminate shackling of children in juvenile court.
Relevant articles Child Law, May 2018 Articles of interest from around the web.
Illinois Legal Aid Online: Technology increases access to legal help and makes pro bono easy By Nicole Capretta Child Law, September 2016 Legal Answers is an online portal for Illinois attorneys to provide limited scope legal advice to lower income Illinois residents about their civil legal issues.
Mind your Ps and Qs: Some tips for interviewing kids By Michael W. Raridon Child Law, September 2016 The author, a GAL with more than 27 years' experience, shares his ideas for how to serve the best interests of the children.

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