10 Things to Consider as a Minority Student in Law SchoolBy Veronica Smith, Craig McGee, & Joshua ConleyDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026Diverse perspectives are important, especially in traditionally exclusive spaces, such as the law. Three law students from the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School share their perspectives regarding dealing with imposter syndrome, finding empowerment, engaging in networking, and seizing opportunities.
All Great Men Have Mothers: A Book ReviewBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Diversity Leadership Council, June 2026The mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, and James Baldwin played a pivotal role in their sons' lives. While often discussed less, this book sheds light on how Alberta Williams King, Louise Little, and Berdis Jones Baldwin raised men who would change the country's landscape.
Balancing Career & Family at the Appellate CourtBy Julia Kaye WykoffDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026We tell our kids all the time: look for the helpers. But as working moms, why don’t we tell ourselves that, too? Although our profession can be filled with some curmudgeonly old-schoolers who don’t understand the struggle, there is no shortage of helpers out there that want us to succeed. I am grateful that I found my mentor and “helper” in Justice Sholar.
Correct Analysis Regarding “Particular Social Group” in Asylum ClaimsBy Ralph E. GuderianDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026To be granted asylum in the United States, a person must demonstrate that he or she is a “refugee,” that he or she is not barred from asylum for any of the reasons listed in U.S. immigration laws, and that the decision-maker should grant asylum as a matter of discretion. However, case law has infused certain flaws into the analysis that must be addressed and corrected.
Editor’s NoteBy Sandra BlakeDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026As Editor of Diversity Matters, Sandra Blake introduces the current edition of this newsletter, emphasizing the representation of diversity across multiple committees and sections of the ISBA.
EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU A LAWYER? Incivility Motivated by Bias in Our Legal SystemBy Junaid M. AfeefDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026Civility in the legal profession goes beyond basic courtesy. Understanding civility requires not only familiarity with professional rules of conduct but also an appreciation of how incivility has historically functioned as a tool of exclusion, particularly along lines of race, gender, and other identity-based characteristics.
Illinois HB 1312 Amends Public Higher Education Act, Requires Procedures of Public UniversitiesBy Jessica Galanos & Heather ClingermanDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026On December 9, 2025, the Illinois Public Higher Education Act was amended to include a new section titled, “Immigration Status and Immigration Enforcement," requiring all public colleges and universities in Illinois to take three actions by January 1, 2026: (1) develop procedures for reviewing and authorizing requests to enter a school’s campus; (2) post immigration enforcement resources to the school’s primary website; and (3) adopt procedures to determine if an immigration enforcement activity is occurring or has occurred on the campus.
Impact of Rescission of Laws on DEI in Family Law: Implications to Access to JusticeBy Arlette G. PorterDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026The recent rescission of DEI laws has already had a profound effect on access to justice. It has had a tangible and perhaps detrimental consequence in the family law arena. Revocation of DEI initiatives significantly hinders divorcing parties’ and parentage parties’ access to justice, particularly those in vulnerable positions.
Judicial Mentoring and the Future of the Illinois Bench: Building Transparent, Equitable, and Merit-Based Pathways to Judicial ServiceBy Junaid M. AfeefDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026Attorney mentoring is long recognized as a valuable resource for aspiring attorneys or young attorneys; however, judicial mentoring is often overlooked. Judicial mentoring is not a luxury; it is an institutional necessity. In an era of declining public trust and increasing complexity in adjudication, Illinois cannot rely on informal pipelines and inherited privilege to staff its courts.
Know Your Rights—Immigration Resources for AttorneysBy Dina NinfoDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026The Diversity Leadership Council and the International and Immigration Section Council partnered with the Resurrection Project’s Immigrant Justice department to produce this Know Your Rights webcast to provide information to attorneys.
Message From the ChairBy Dina NinfoDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026Dina Ninfo, the current Chair of the ISBA Diversity Leadership Council, discusses the current political climate of the United States, rollbacks of protections and rights that impact every member of society, and attacks on the legal system and the rule of law.
Navigating the Legal World as a Young Black Male Lawyer in Chicago: Challenges, Triumphs, and the Road AheadBy Jason A. Pica, IIDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026In this article, the author shares his personal perspective on what it means to be a young Black lawyer in Chicago. The author's experience is shaped by the history of his people, the stories he carries from his community, and the constant weight to represent those folks and their stories who have often been silenced.
President’s MessageBy Hon. Bridget C. DuignanDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026A note from ISBA Immediate Past President, Bridget C. Duignan, regarding the role of diversity in the legal profession and highlighting a previous CLE, Stronger Together: Supporting Women in the Legal Profession.
Reproductive Health Decisions Are Now Protected Under the Illinois Human Rights ActBy Olga BeznashchukDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026A brief survey of the historical journey of the Illinois Human Rights Act and subsequent legislation that offers protections for gender, sexual orientation, reproductive healthcare, and more.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and Its Application to Illinois Family Law and GuardianshipsBy Phil SchlichtingDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) is a form of immigration relief that is available to foreign born children that have been abused, neglected, abandoned or similarly mistreated by one or both parents. Approved SIJS petitioners are able to adjust status in the United States when their priority date becomes current.
Springfield PrideFestDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026For many years, the ISBA has participated in the Springfield PrideFest, a beloved Central Illinois tradition held on the third Saturday of May.
The Supreme Court’s Unanimous Decision on the Standard of Review for Removal OrdersBy Jesse J. SolisDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026The Urias-Orellana et al. v. Bondi, Attorney General case held that the First Circuit applied the correct standard of review when reviewing the Board of Immigration Appeals’ determination for substantial evidence regarding persecution.
The U.S. Citizenship Application Process Is Changing in 2025By John RottierDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026Changes to the U.S. naturalization process took effect on October 20, 2025, including new civic test, stricter rules for exemptions, re-introducing neighborhood investigations, revised moral character standard, and more.
When a Private Home Becomes a Regulated Workplace: Employment Law Considerations for Hiring Nannies in IllinoisBy Kat GaineyDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026For many families juggling careers and children, hiring an in-home nanny often feels like a practical solution to an everyday problem. The arrangement appears personal, private, and even informal; however, unlike traditional employment relationships, in-home childcare frequently begins through word-of-mouth referrals, casual interviews, and handshake agreements. Yet few families pause to consider the legal implications that accompany recurring childcare.
Women at the Center: Community Responses to Federal Immigration Activity in Chicago and the Surrounding SuburbsBy Kat DelgadoDiversity Leadership Council, June 2026Over the past several months, many Chicagoland residents have observed an increased federal presence in the city and surrounding suburbs. These temporary operations, largely related to immigration enforcement, have been visible and disruptive and have prompted widespread community responses. For women living in Illinois and practicing law, these events do not exist in an abstract or theoretical space, but rather intersect directly with the lived realities of local families and with the legal systems designed to protect them.
Dark Times for DEIBy Ronald S. LangackerDiversity Leadership Council, June 2025It’s important that entities and individuals who support DEI initiatives continue to do so, and not immediately be pressured into dropping these initiatives simply because it’s no longer convenient.
Editor’s NoteBy Sandra BlakeDiversity Leadership Council, June 2025While the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion come under fire, members of the ISBA continue to honor those ideals that make us a welcoming and vital organization. We strive to have our membership representative of the very people we serve professionally.
Equal Rights Amendment Update: Where Are We Now?By Cindy G. BuysDiversity Leadership Council, June 2025At its Annual Meeting in Chicago in July 2024, the American Bar Association adopted a resolution recognizing the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because it satisfies all requirements of Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The ABA did so with support of the ISBA. The ABA Resolution rejects the argument that the ratifications are time barred because the time bar is not part of Article V of the Constitution and because it was contained in the text of a congressional resolution and not in the language of the amendment itself.
Event Recap: What It Takes to be a Trial Lawyer if You’re Not a ManBy Kristine HoniotesDiversity Leadership Council, June 2025A synopsis of the University of Illinois College of Law's Fall Symposium from November 8, 2024, entitled, "Teaching the Next Generation of Trial Lawyers: What It Takes to be a Trial Lawyer if You’re Not a Man."
An Expeditious and Economical Path to JusticeBy Judge Brian WeinthalDiversity Leadership Council, June 2025As the result of statutory changes that took effect on January 1, 2025, the Illinois Human Rights Act now provides up to two years for individuals to assert allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and retaliation in connection with purported civil rights violations. In addition, the Human Rights Act now prohibits unlawful discrimination against individuals on the basis of “reproductive health decisions” and “family responsibilities.” Attorneys seeking to file civil rights lawsuits under the newly-amended law in 2025 should strongly consider bringing their claims before the Illinois Human Rights Commission.
Governor J.B. Pritzker Signs Into Law the House Bill 5142By Olga BeznashchukDiversity Leadership Council, June 2025On July 29, 2024, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law HB5142, also known as the Birth Equity Act. The Act amends the Illinois Insurance Code and Illinois Public Aid Code to expand coverage for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care. The Act also mandates comprehensive abortion coverage without extra costs and deductibles.
