Articles on Ethics

Maintain ethical corporate governance during the economic downturn By R. Stephen Scott Corporate Law Departments, January 2009 The current economic downturn poses many new challenges to corporations. Failure to maintain ethical corporate governance, to save costs or to avoid delayed actions, may only complicate or derail the corporate objectives, as the automakers and Bank of America have learned. Failure to meet important stakeholder expectations will surely lead to loss of the public’s support, while exceeding those expectations should lead to greater support and achievement of the corporate objectives.
Mandatory disclosure and expanded ethics requirements for government contractors By John E. Jensen Corporate Law Departments, January 2009 Starting on December 12, 2008, new rules require all federal contractors to disclose to the government violations of many federal criminal laws and any false claims made to the government. These changes are likely to cause contractors to reassess their ethics and compliance programs. The changes will present contractors with challenging questions, such as whether a disclosable violation has occurred.
Evaluating the ethics of ADR programs By Kurt Kamrath Family Law, December 2008 The practice of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is rife with ethical dilemmas. It does not take much time in the field before a practitioner will find a conflict between two central aspects of ADR.
Illinois ethics bill dramatically limits political contributions to candidates for statewide office By Michael Demetriou & Michael Zolandz Corporate Law Departments, November 2008 The Illinois State Legislature recently amended the Illinois Procurement Code to place new restrictions on political contributions by those that seek or secure state contracts.
Evaluating the ethics of ADR programs By Kurt Kamrath Alternative Dispute Resolution, June 2008 The practice of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is rife with ethical dilemmas. It does not take much time in the field before a practitioner will find a conflict between two central aspects of ADR.
The ethics of confidentiality: Suggestions for resolution of disputed, but quantifiable facts By Robert E. Wells, Jr. Alternative Dispute Resolution, May 2008 A hypothetical conversation involving ethics and confidentiality.
Ethics issues By Eugene F. Friedman Human and Civil Rights, December 2007 The basics of copyright law
Illinois ethical release reporting dilemmas for environmental attorneys, engineers and geologists By Raymond T. Reott & Becky J. Schanz Environmental and Natural Resources Law, April 2007 This article will examine the confidentiality duties of Illinois attorneys and other environmental professionals with regards to the release reporting obligations.
Due process and ethical issues for administrative judges By William A. Price Administrative Law, March 2007 Due process requirements of the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions, and the requirements of both professional and judicial ethics, may apply to actions of ALJs.
Reaching Out or Overreaching—Judicial ethics and the self-represented litigant By Paul E. Freehling Administrative Law, February 2007 On January 8, 2007, Cynthia Gray, Director of the Center for Judicial Ethics of the American Judicature Society (AJS), spoke to the Administrative Law Judges Committee of the Chicago Bar Association.
Practice Update: Who is your client? What document can you disclose By Bernard Wysocki General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, October 2006 From a practical standpoint, it is important when you see a potential third party involvement, to secure written retainer and defining your representation.
The Illinois State Officials and Employees Ethics Act By Lynda K. Given & Timothy A. Stratton Education Law, September 2005 This article will summarize pertinent provisions of the Act, including those related to the Article 10 Gift Ban and the Article 5 Prohibited Political Activities.
Attorney General issues opinion under State Officials and Employees Ethics Act By Lynn Patton Local Government Law, March 2005 Attorney General Lisa Madigan recently issued an opinion regarding the new State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (5 ILCS 430/1-1 et seq. (West 2003 Supp.)).
Attorney General’s Office issues opinions on the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act* By Lynn Patton Administrative Law, November 2004 Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office recently issued two opinions regarding the implementation of the new State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (added by Public Act 93-615, effective November 19, 2003, as amended by Public Act 93-617, effective December 9, 2003, to be codified at 5 ILCS 430/1-1 et seq.).
State Officials and Employees Ethics Act-Applicability to municipalities By John H. Brechin Local Government Law, October 2004 In late 2003, the Illinois General Assembly passed two bills representing significant ethics reform legislation. Public Act 93-615 became affective November 19, 2003.
Attorney General’s office issues opinions on the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act* By Lynn Patton Government Lawyers, September 2004 Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office recently issued two opinions regarding the implementation of the new State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (added by Public Act 93-615, effective November 19, 2003, as amended by Public Act 93-617, effective December 9, 2003, to be codified at 5 ILCS 430/1-1 et seq.).
Attorney General’s office issues opinions on the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act By Lynn Patton Local Government Law, July 2004 Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office recently issued two opinions regarding the implementation of the new State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (added by Public Act 93-615, effective November 19, 2003, as amended by Public Act 93-617, effective December 9, 2003, to be codified at 5 ILCS 430/1-1 et seq.).
Ethics corner: Blagojevich signs ethics reforms into law Government Lawyers, March 2004 On December 9, 2003, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich signed into law the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.
Illinois’ commitment to ethics By Claire A. Manning Administrative Law, March 2004 The passage of new ethics legislation at the end of 2003 marks an era of legislative reform in a state that has, for too long, carried a sullied, and unfortunate reputation for politics-by-purchase.
Ethics reform a top priority in 2003 fall veto session By James W. Chipman Administrative Law, February 2004 After months of intense negotiations, the Illinois General Assembly passed an ethics package that included all of the components Gov. Blagojevich outlined in his amendatory veto of the original legislation last summer.
Governmental ethics: Public Acts 93-615 & 93-617 By Phillip B. Lenzini Human and Civil Rights, February 2004 In its zeal to close the door after the horses have left the barn, the Illinois General Assembly has created Public Act 93-615, the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and Public Act 93-617, an act in relation to governmental ethics.
Ethics corner By Rosalyn B. Kaplan Government Lawyers, November 2003 Although part of the Web site is still “under construction,” public information about Illinois attorneys, an explanation of the operation of the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (“ARDC”) rules, and links to use for researching ethics issues are currently available at: .
News you can use: Ethics bill update Government Lawyers, November 2003 On August 26, 2003, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich filed his long-anticipated amendatory veto of House Bill 3412. House Bill 3412, among other things, creates the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act and prohibits state officers and state employees of the executive and legislative branches of state government and the office of the Auditor General from engaging in political activities on state time.
Ethics corner Government Lawyers, August 2003 Assistant Attorney General Ed Carter, Supervisor of Financial Crimes Prosecutions for the Illinois Attorney General's office, recently published the article "Limits of Judicial Power: Does the Constitution Bar the Application of Some Ethics Rules to Executive Branch Attorneys?" in the Winter 2003 issue (Vol. 27, No. 2) of the Southern Illinois University Law Journal.
Ethics corner By Nancy J. Katz Government Lawyers, November 2000 Government lawyers face all the ethical dilemmas faced by lawyers in private practice, in addition to some unique problems.
State Gift Ban Act—Governor’s Ethics Commission Administrative Law, March 2000 The State Gift Ban Act became effective January 1, 1999. This new Act prohibits Illinois governmental employees, elected officials and specific family members from receiving gifts from prohibited sources with some exceptions. Pursuant to the Act, the Governor's Ethics Commission has published the following informational material.
The duty to disclose a client’s fraud Ethical issues in civil practice and procedure By Steven G. Pietrick Civil Practice and Procedure, November 1999 What is required of a lawyer who discovers that her client has made a false representation to a court that tends to defraud the court or others?

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