Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe: The Supreme Court Slams the Door on Present-Day Alien Tort Statute ClaimsBy Cindy G. BuysHuman and Civil Rights, September 2026In June 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Cisco v. Doe, Case No. 24-856, which significantly limited future claims under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), 28 U.S.C. § 1350, by holding that federal courts may not recognize new causes of action under the ATS. This decision means that many victims of human rights violations by U.S. and foreign actors overseas are unlikely to obtain relief in U.S. federal courts.
Letter From the ChairBy Candice StearnsHuman and Civil Rights, September 2026A note from the Chair of the Human & Civil Rights Law Section Council, discussing the 2026-2027 bar year, and the commitment to justice and ensuring civil liberties.
The Rule of LawBy Kathryn EisenhartHuman and Civil Rights, September 2026As lawyers, we know that our role in society is to defend the Rule of Law. We carry the Rule of Law on our shoulders. To challenge or defeat the Rule of Law the challengers must first “kill all the lawyers.”
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.
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.
Book Review: “Life, Law & Liberty”By Gary T. RafoolHuman and Civil Rights, May 2026A book review of Life, Law & Liberty, a memoir from Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, detailing his early life, rise to the United States Supreme Court, and prominent cases in which his legal expertise played a key role.
EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU a LAWYER? Incivility Motivated by Bias in Our Legal SystemBy Junaid M. AfeefHuman and Civil Rights, May 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.
Where the Workplace Ends: The Illinois Right to Privacy in the Workplace ActBy Mara Baltabols & Sarah MilcarekHuman and Civil Rights, May 2026Illinois employees can expect a certain level of privacy in the workplace as to their personal content and interactions on the internet, as long as the employee does not cross the line between work and play. While employees have the right to their own autonomy, personal beliefs, and to engage in the use of lawful products, employers also have the right to maintain a safe workplace that properly reflects their business’s mission, values, and confidential information.
Illinois HB 1312 Amends Public Higher Education Act, Requires Procedures of Public UniversitiesBy Jessica Galanos & Heather ClingermanHuman and Civil Rights, April 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.
Upcoming CLE: Defending Democracy and Safeguarding the Rule of LawBy Junaid M. AfeefHuman and Civil Rights, April 2026The 2026 Rule of Law Symposium, Defending Democracy: Protecting the Rule of Law, will be hosted on May 8, 2026, in Chicago, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This program will feature sitting and retired judges, legal scholars, civil rights advocates, nonprofit attorneys, and private practitioners. Register today!
ISBA General Assembly Adopts Resolutions To Protect Noncitizens’ Constitutional RightsBy Cindy G. BuysHuman and Civil Rights, February 2026At the ISBA Midyear Meeting in December 2025, the International and Immigration Law Section Council sponsored, and the General Assembly adopted, a resolution in support of certain actions taken by the American Bar Association (ABA) to protect the constitutional rights of noncitizens in the United States.
Judicial Mentoring and the Future of the Illinois Bench: Building Transparent, Equitable, and Merit-Based Pathways to Judicial ServiceBy Junaid M. AfeefHuman and Civil Rights, February 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.
Letter From the ChairBy Jill D. LekaHuman and Civil Rights, February 2026A note from the Chair of the Human & Civil Rights Section Council, reflecting on current events.
Minority Representation in the Judiciary: What More Needs To Be Done?By Junaid AfeefHuman and Civil Rights, August 2025A discussion of increasing diversity in the judiciary, including how far we've come, the progress that still needs to be made, and a few potential solutions.
Silas Marner, a Novel, by George EliotBy Hon. Michael S. JordanHuman and Civil Rights, August 2025The article discusses Silas Marner by George Eliot, who wrote under a male pseudonym due to gender biases in her time. The story follows Silas, a reclusive weaver betrayed by his community, who finds redemption and love after adopting a lost child, Eppie. The novel explores themes of class, religion, judgment, and human connection. The author of this article reflects on its deeper value when read later in life.
What Do We Mean by “Human Rights?” Can We Agree?By Sandra Crawford, J.D.Human and Civil Rights, August 2025While there may not be a universal definition of "human rights," this article explores the origins of human rights and how everyone's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of security of person must be protected.
Why I Will Keep Trying To Contact Public OfficialsBy Bhavani RaveendranHuman and Civil Rights, August 2025Learn about additional ways that you can contact your representatives or senators to effectuate change.
A Book Review: The Umbrella Maker’s SonBy Hon. Michael S. JordanHuman and Civil Rights, April 2025Tod Lending has a winner, scoring a touchdown-homerun combo in his premier effort. He crafts a riveting account, masterfully developing multiple characters in this account of events shortly before and during the years after Hitler’s forces attacked Poland. We follow two Jewish Polish families through these trying times seeing many heroic acts of bravery when faced with sadistic acts of evil on the part of Nazis and their sympathizers. There is a constant battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil, the brave and the self-serving. We meet characters who risk their own lives to hide, house, support, and save others and meet others willing to inform and support the monsters stealing humanity at every turn.
Comments from the ChairBy Ronald S. LangackerHuman and Civil Rights, April 2025A note from the chair regarding recent section council activity.
