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.
Five Ways to Be a More Efficient Working MomBy Nicole SartoriRural Practice, June 2026At the end of each day, a working parent may feel exhausted from trying to balance the demands of their career and their responsibilities at home. Give them (and yourself) grace, accept the outside assistance in the ways of apps and people, and incorporate these five tips into your life to ease the mental load.
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.
The Women by Kristin Hannah—A Reflection of Our TimesBy Naomi SchusterFamily Law, June 2026The Women by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction novel highlighting the overlooked contributions of women—especially nurses—during the Vietnam War. Through the fictional character Frankie McGrath, based on real accounts, the story reveals the harsh realities faced by female veterans, including trauma, lack of recognition, and poor treatment upon returning home. Despite 10,000 women serving in Vietnam, mostly as volunteer nurses, their roles were long ignored. Efforts to honor them culminated in the 1993 dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., thanks to advocacy led by former nurse Diane Carlson Evans.
Five Ways to Be a More Efficient Working MomBy Nicole SartoriWomen and the Law, May 2026At the end of each day, a working parent may feel exhausted from trying to balance the demands of their career and their responsibilities at home. Give them (and yourself) grace, accept the outside assistance in the ways of apps and people, and incorporate these five tips into your life to ease the mental load.
“Invisible” Abuse: Should Illinois Recognize Coercive Control as Domestic Violence?By Judge Megan GoldishWomen and the Law, May 2026Illinois is on the cusp of a significant shift in domestic violence law. Recognizing coercive control would move the state beyond a narrow focus on physical harm toward a more accurate understanding of abuse. But recognition alone is not enough. The question is no longer whether coercive control exists. It is whether Illinois law and its courts are prepared to fully acknowledge coercive control as a form of abuse and respond appropriately.
ISBA Standing Committee on Women & the Law 2026 Annual Afternoon TeaBy Dina NinfoWomen and the Law, May 2026A recap of the WATL's annual Afternoon Tea, a signature event celebrating International Women's Day, Women's History Month, and the achievements, leadership, and impacts of women in the legal profession.
Lawyers’ Assistance Program: Mental HealthBy Nicole SartoriLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, May 2026The Lawyers' Assistance Program is a valuable resource for attorneys, judges, and law students, offering services from assessments, substance abuse to mental health treatments, support groups, and individual counseling.
Lawyers’ Assistance Program: Mental HealthBy Nicole SartoriMental Health Law, May 2026The Lawyers' Assistance Program is a valuable resource for attorneys, judges, and law students, offering services from assessments, substance abuse to mental health treatments, support groups, and individual counseling.
Wellbeing of Caregivers in the Legal Profession: Why Caregivers Make Better Lawyers and the System Changes Needed for SupportBy Hannah R. LamoreWomen and the Law, May 2026On March 11, 2026, the Standing Committee on Women and the Law presented a continuing education program titled Wellbeing for Caregivers in the Legal Profession. It featured Anna Krolikowska of Anna K. Law, Professor Michelle Browning Coughlin of Northern Kentucky University College of Law, and Paulette Brown of MindSetPower, LLC. The program was intended for anyone who may be in a position of caregiving while practicing law: a young lawyer with a new family, an attorney who is faced with caring for an ailing spouse or elderly parents, and any caregiving demands in between.
The Women by Kristin Hannah—A Reflection of Our TimesBy Naomi SchusterWomen and the Law, May 2026The Women by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction novel highlighting the overlooked contributions of women—especially nurses—during the Vietnam War. Through the fictional character Frankie McGrath, based on real accounts, the story reveals the harsh realities faced by female veterans, including trauma, lack of recognition, and poor treatment upon returning home. Despite 10,000 women serving in Vietnam, mostly as volunteer nurses, their roles were long ignored. Efforts to honor them culminated in the 1993 dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., thanks to advocacy led by former nurse Diane Carlson Evans.
All Great Men Have Mothers: A Book ReviewBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Women and the Law, April 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.
Annual Tea Celebrating Women’s History Month 2026Women and the Law, April 2026On Friday, March 13, 2026, the ISBA Standing Committee on Women & the Law hosted an afternoon tea to celebrate Women’s History Month at Loews Chicago Hotel. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Kay O'Brien was the keynote speaker.
Balancing Career & Family at the Appellate CourtBy Julia Kaye WykoffWomen and the Law, April 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.
ISBA’s Women & the Law Committee Raises Funds and Donations for Special Olympics IllinoisBy Laura CastagnaWomen and the Law, April 2026Thanks to the generosity of our WATL Committee members and donors, 154 items were purchased from the Amazon Wish List for the Sycamore Killer Whales, Warren County Falcons, and the Big Muddy Crew, and $835 in monetary contributions were donated directly to Special Olympics Illinois.
Lawyers’ Assistance Program: Mental HealthBy Nicole SartoriWomen and the Law, April 2026The Lawyers' Assistance Program is a valuable resource for attorneys, judges, and law students, offering services from assessments, substance abuse to mental health treatments, support groups, and individual counseling.
“Mind the Gap”: The Importance of Using Our Voices in Support of Judicial IndependenceBy Judge Chloé PedersenWomen and the Law, April 2026Judicial independence is an integral part of our legal system. There is no question, however, that we, as members of the bench and bar, have each sworn an oath to stand up for the rule of law. I implore each of you to stand strong, remain independent, and zealously serve as you have sworn to do. Judge Bloom, in addressing the Federal Bar Association's Broward County Chapter, provides compelling commentary on the past history and future ambitions of this duty.
New Member Spotlight: Aggie BaumertWomen and the Law, April 2026Learn more about Aggie Baumert, who not only brings a wealth of experience in family law to the committee—she embodies grit, passion, and dedication against all odds, a true testament to everything that the committee represents.
Women at the Center: Community Responses to Federal Immigration Activity in Chicago and the Surrounding SuburbsBy Kat DelgadoInternational and Immigration Law, April 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.
Annual Tea To Celebrate Women’s History MonthWomen and the Law, February 2026Join the Women & the Law Committee for its 2026 Annual Tea at the Loews Chicago Hotel on Friday, March 13, 2026!
Call to Action: Build a Bridge From Courthouse to CommunityBy Margie Komes Putzler & Avery TenEcykWomen and the Law, February 2026Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Rochford is excited to unveil a forward and public-facing initiative: Build a Bridge from Courthouse to Community, founded on the premise that there is diminished confidence in our legal system, and it is the responsibility of lawyers and judges to make information about the operation of the courts more accessible and transparent to the people we serve.
Call to Action: Build a Bridge From Courthouse to CommunityBy Margie Komes Putzler & Avery TenEcykWorkers’ Compensation Law, February 2026Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Rochford is excited to unveil a forward and public-facing initiative: Build a Bridge from Courthouse to Community, founded on the premise that there is diminished confidence in our legal system, and it is the responsibility of lawyers and judges to make information about the operation of the courts more accessible and transparent to the people we serve.
Safety, Stigma, and the State: Savanna’s Law and Domestic Violence RegistriesBy Judge Megan GoldishWomen and the Law, February 2026Savanna’s Law raises questions of whether other states, including Illinois, could adopt a similar framework. Tennessee is the first state to implement a statewide public registry specifically for repeat DV offenders. While other jurisdictions maintain law-enforcement-only databases or protective-order registries, these differ significantly from a public criminal offender registry.
When a Private Home Becomes a Regulated Workplace: Employment Law Considerations for Hiring Nannies in IllinoisBy Kat GaineyWomen and the Law, February 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 DelgadoWomen and the Law, February 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.
Mentorship: The Power of “Small” ActsBy Rachel KolbWomen and the Law, September 2025Mentorship and networking are important resources in the legal field. Be sure you are utilizing your personal and professional connections to enhance your experience!
Abortion Bans: How Post-Dobbs Restrictions Will Impact States Without Their Own Abortion LimitsBy Olivia St. Clair Long & MK ClaytonWomen and the Law, May 2025Florida’s new six-week abortion ban has created a healthcare crisis, forcing many to travel out of state for care and putting lives at risk, as seen in Anya Cook’s near-fatal miscarriage. The law includes limited, hard-to-access exceptions and disproportionately impacts marginalized groups. It also strains healthcare systems in nearby states and may influence national public health and political dynamics.
