The Illinois Court of Claims—What’s That All About?By Leonard F. AmariYoung Lawyers Division, March 2025The Illinois Court of Claims serves any citizen with a claim of money damages or personal injury against a state agency or state employee. The Court also awards compensation to victims of violent crimes under the Crime Victims Compensation Act and to dependents of police officers, firefighters, and National Guard members killed in the line of duty.
The Illinois Court of Claims—What’s That All About?By Leonard F. AmariSenior Lawyers, February 2025The Illinois Court of Claims serves any citizen with a claim of money damages or personal injury against a state agency or state employee. The Court also awards compensation to victims of violent crimes under the Crime Victims Compensation Act and to dependents of police officers, firefighters, and National Guard members killed in the line of duty.
Illinois Courts Are Altering the Fee Waiver StatuteBy Michael StraussFamily Law, October 2025This article explores the importance of holding courts accountable in appropriately applying the fee waiver statute for indigent litigants.
Illinois Enacts New Neonatal Intensive Care Leave ActBy Kimberly A. RossLabor and Employment Law, September 2025The Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act (NICLA), signed by Governor Pritzker on August 15, 2025, will require employers meeting certain qualifications to provide unpaid leave to all employees when a child of the employee is a patient in the NICU.
Illinois Expands General Jurisdiction Over Defendants in Toxic Tort CasesBy Michael P. MurphyEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, September 2025Updates to the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure require businesses to "consent" to general jurisdiction in toxic exposure cases as a cost of doing business in Illinois.
Illinois General Assembly Passes Bill Banning Carbon Sequestration Near Mahomet AquiferBy John H. HendersonEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2025The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill banning carbon sequestration over, under, or through a “sole source aquifer.” SB 1723 passed the Senate by a vote of 55-0 on April 10 and passed the House by a vote of 91-19 on May 20. Upon signing by Governor Pritzker, the bill will become law. The Mahomet Aquifer is the only sole source aquifer in Illinois, and the bill applies only to carbon sequestration activities near that aquifer.
Illinois General Assembly Passes Bill Banning Carbon Sequestration Near Mahomet AquiferBy John H. HendersonMineral Law, June 2025The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill banning carbon sequestration over, under, or through a “sole source aquifer.” SB 1723 passed the Senate by a vote of 55-0 on April 10 and passed the House by a vote of 91-19 on May 20. Upon signing by Governor Pritzker, the bill will become law. The Mahomet Aquifer is the only sole source aquifer in Illinois, and the bill applies only to carbon sequestration activities near that aquifer.
Illinois Has a “Climate Bank!” What Does It Do?Environmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2025The Illinois Climate Bank, created by the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, funds clean energy and climate projects across the state. It supports grid upgrades, solar for low-income communities, EV charging, energy efficiency loans, and small business financing. Backed by federal and state funds, the bank promotes job creation, emissions reduction, and energy equity. A second fund, the Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund, focuses on underserved communities, while rural areas benefit from the Green Bank for Rural America.
Illinois Has a “Climate Bank!” What Does It Do?Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, June 2025The Illinois Climate Bank, created by the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, funds clean energy and climate projects across the state. It supports grid upgrades, solar for low-income communities, EV charging, energy efficiency loans, and small business financing. Backed by federal and state funds, the bank promotes job creation, emissions reduction, and energy equity. A second fund, the Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund, focuses on underserved communities, while rural areas benefit from the Green Bank for Rural America.
Illinois Increases Maximum Civil Penalties for Environmental ViolationsBy Melissa Brown & Michael ScottCorporate Law Departments, September 2025A summary of the new legislation that increases the maximum civil penalty amounts for violations under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act.
Illinois Increases Maximum Civil Penalties for Environmental ViolationsBy Melissa Brown & Michael ScottEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, September 2025A summary of the new legislation that increases the maximum civil penalty amounts for violations under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act.
Illinois Joins Coalition Suing Trump Administration on Energy Executive OrderBy Craig R. HedinEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, July 2025On January 20, 2025, President Trump declared a national energy emergency to fast-track energy projects, citing unreliable energy supply. A coalition of 15 states sued, arguing the emergency is unjustified and the order unlawfully bypasses environmental laws, risking harm to people, wildlife, and state interests. The case may reach the Supreme Court.
Illinois Joins Coalition Suing Trump Administration on Energy Executive OrderBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, June 2025On January 20, 2025, President Trump declared a national energy emergency to fast-track energy projects, citing unreliable energy supply. A coalition of 15 states sued, arguing the emergency is unjustified and the order unlawfully bypasses environmental laws, risking harm to people, wildlife, and state interests. The case may reach the Supreme Court.
Illinois Municipal League End of Session ReportLocal Government Law, June 2025View the Illinois Municipal League End of Session Report from the 104th General Assembly that was published June 1, 2025.
Illinois Oil and Gas Advisory BoardBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2025The Illinois Oil and Gas Advisory Board held its quarterly meeting on January 23, 2025. The following is a summary of reports and actions conducted at the meeting.
Illinois State Bar Association’s 2024 Annual Midyear Meeting: A Resounding Success!By Genevieve E. Miller, Esq.Young Lawyers Division, February 2025The ISBA's 2024 Midyear Meeting lived up to its reputation as one of the premier events on the legal community’s calendar. Held at the JW Marriott in downtown Chicago on December 12 and 13, the two-day event provided a perfect blend of professional development, networking, and celebration for attorneys, judges, and legal professionals across Illinois. Attendees engaged in a full schedule of substantive section council meetings, dynamic CLE courses, and lively social gatherings.
Illinois State Bar Association’s 2024 Annual Midyear Meeting: A Resounding Success!By Genevieve E. Miller, Esq.Family Law, January 2025The ISBA's 2024 Midyear Meeting lived up to its reputation as one of the premier events on the legal community’s calendar. Held at the JW Marriott in downtown Chicago on December 12 and 13, the two-day event provided a perfect blend of professional development, networking, and celebration for attorneys, judges, and legal professionals across Illinois. Attendees engaged in a full schedule of substantive section council meetings, dynamic CLE courses, and lively social gatherings.
Illinois Supreme Court NewsElder Law, December 2025The past few months have seen various changes enacted by the Illinois Supreme Court, from requiring all Illinois Supreme Court opinions to be released with summaries, to amendments to several Illinois Pattern Civil and Criminal Jury Instructions, and everything in between.
Illinois Supreme Court NewsElder Law, November 2025A brief overview of legal developments in Illinois, including elimination of filing and appearance fees in minor guardianship cases, amendments to the Supreme Court Policy on Remote Court Appearances in Civil Proceedings, changes to several Illinois Supreme Court rules, and more.
Illinois Supreme Court To Decide Question Concerning Standard Pollution ExclusionBy James NyesteInsurance Law, September 2025A look at Griffith Foods Int’l Inc. v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA and its potential impact on the standard pollution exclusion in commerical general liability policies as the case heads to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Illinois Updates Small Estate Affidavit Law To Reflect Modern RealitiesBy Emily R. VivianReal Estate Law, October 2025Updates to the Probate Act of 1975 brings changes to the small estate affidavit provisions, raising the minimum threshold for the estate value and excluding the value of motor vehicles.
Immigration Considerations for Family Law LawyersBy Rachael ToftFamily Law, March 2025The evolving political landscape has resulted in drastic changes to immigration enforcement that must be accounted for by family law lawyers. A client that has an uncertain immigration status should be warned that their status can have significant impacts in both divorce and parental responsibility cases.
Impact of Rescission of Laws on DEI in Family Law: Implications to Access to JusticeBy Arlette G. PorterRacial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, October 2025The 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.
Impact of Rescission of Laws on DEI in Family Law: Implications to Access to JusticeBy Arlette G. PorterFamily Law, April 2025The 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.
Implied Acquittal and Double JeopardyBy Mark Wykoff, Sr.Criminal Justice, December 2025A second trial for first-degree murder when the jury had the opportunity to find the defendant guilty of first-degree murder at defendant's first trial, but did not do so, operates as an acquittal of first-degree murder, and a second prosecution for that offense is barred by principles of double jeopardy.
Important Legal Development: Illinois Severance AgreementsBy Jeralyn H. BaranLabor and Employment Law, September 2025A look at key changes to the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act and potential actions employers should be taking to ensure that employment and separation agreements are in compliance with the amended Act.
