Commissioner Spotlight: Carolyn DohertyBy Alexis FerracutiWorkers’ Compensation Law, October 2025Each month, the Workers’ Compensation Law Section Newsletter will feature an Arbitrator or Commissioner spotlight to help the practicing bar get to know the Commission on a personal and professional basis.
Comp in the ClassroomBy Brandy JohnsonWorkers’ Compensation Law, August 2025A law professor details her experience with developing an innovative Workers' Compensation course to provide students with real-world practice experience.
Compulsory Joinder & Speedy Trial Revisited in People v. Covalt, 2025 IL 220346By James SternCriminal Justice, December 2025The compulsory joinder statute requires all charges—based on the same act—to be prosecuted in a single prosecution if the offenses were known to the prosecution and are within the jurisdiction of the same court. The Illinois Supreme Court has explained that all charges subject to compulsory joinder are subject to the same speedy trial period. As such, the speedy trial period begins for all charges subject to compulsory joinder once the speedy trial demand is filed, even if the State files some charges at a later time.
The Consequence of Failing to Find the LeakBy Gary R. GehlbachReal Estate Law, April 2025Since October 1, 1994, Illinois law has required owners of residential real property to provide a detailed disclosure when the property is transferred pursuant to “sale, exchange, installment land contract, assignment of beneficial interest, lease with an option to purchase, ground lease, or assignment of ground lease,” with limited exceptions. The consequences of the failure to honestly disclose defects of the property can be significant, as the defendant learned in the recent Third District Appellate Court decision, Poundstone v. Cook.
The Cost of Doing BusinessBy Michael G. CortinaCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, September 2025Learn more about the control banks have when responding to third party requests for documents and information, and how creditors should tailor their citations to banks as much as possible.
Countries Which Have Not Signed the Hague Convention—To Travel or Not? A Balancing ActBy Jessica MarshallFamily Law, December 2025Family law practitioners should familiarize themselves with the Hague Convention because travel to countries that are not signatories to the Hague Convention or that are not in good standing is inherently risky for a minor child, and understanding what the court looks at when making such a determination is important for all practitioners to know when these issues arise.
Court Determines a Class Action Counterclaim Moot After a Tax Sale Is VacatedBy Lynnette LockwitzState and Local Taxation, December 2025A summary of In re Application of the County Treasurer (Illinois Tax Auction, LLC v. Stephanie D. Roddy), 2025 IL App (1st) 240045 (Aug. 25, 2025) and a look at scavenger tax sales.
Court Rules That District’s Impoundment of Vehicle Did Not Violate Owner’s Constitutional RightsBy Thomas GrippandoLocal Government Law, April 2025In Echevarria v. Jackson, No. 20 C 5271, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11186 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 22, 2025), the plaintiff claimed that the impoundment of his vehicle violated his constitutional rights, as the vehicle was not used during the commission of the offense.
Crafting Influence: The Role of Language and AI in Legal AdvocacyBy Mark C. PalmerArtificial Intelligence & the Practice of Law, Standing Committee on, March 2025A good lawyer also knows that words which may work wonderfully before a jury could backfire in a brief as inappropriate exaggeration or inflammatory and emotional. As lawyers, we must know our audience. Just how powerful are words in shaping perception and future action? Let us turn to quantum theory to better understand their impact.
The Current Status of Non-Compete Agreements: It’s ComplicatedBy Meredith R. MillerLabor and Employment Law, August 2025The approach to policing non-competes has shifted with the political sands and, since the FTC rule has been abandoned, we are left with a state-by-state patchwork and very little certainty for most employers and employees.
The CurseBy William W. AustinSenior Lawyers, February 2025A review of an atypical World War II novel, The Curse of Pietro Houdini, written by American novelist Derek B. Miller and published in 2024. This art-heist-adventure tale is a compelling coming-of-age epic.
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.
Dark Times for DEIBy Ronald S. LangackerHuman and Civil Rights, April 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.
David C. Marcus: The Unsung Civil Rights HeroBy Hon. Jesse G. ReyesBench and Bar, January 2025A civil rights lawyer who represented the Mendez family in the landmark case, Mendez v. Westminster.
D.C. Circuit Court Upholds Ruling That Proxy Voting Advice Is Not SolicitationBy Nathaniel Segal, Jacob C. Tiedt, Mark A. Quade, & Jake W. WiesenCorporate Law Departments, November 2025On July 1, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the February 23, 2024 judgment of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that proxy voting advice does not constitute “solicitation” for purposes of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and related proxy rules.
DCFS Should Be Aware of Reactive Attachment DisorderBy Alan NovickChild Law, April 2025Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a complex mental health condition that primarily affects children who have experienced significant neglect, abuse, or trauma in their early years. It is characterized by a consistent pattern of inhibited, emotionally withdrawn behavior toward adult caregivers, manifested by the child rarely or minimally seeking comfort or minimally responding to comfort when distressed.
A Decision from the Illinois Supreme Court Addressing Mootness in the Area of Juvenile Abuse, Neglect, and DependencyBy Lisa N. LogtermanYoung Lawyers Division, April 2025In January of 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court settled a split that was occurring within the First District Appellate Court of Illinois. Specifically, the Illinois Supreme Court addressed the issue of whether the challenge of one finding of abuse, neglect, or dependency of a minor at adjudication was rendered moot due to the absence of the challenge of another finding of abuse, neglect, or dependency at adjudication.
Deepfakes in the Courtroom: Problems and SolutionsBy George BellasCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, March 2025“Deepfakes” are altered or completely fabricated AI-generated images, audio, or video, that are also extremely realistic, making them difficult to discern from reality. In a sense, they’re AI’s version of photoshopping. Lawyers need to educate themselves and their firms on what deepfakes are and how to spot them, develop a healthy skepticism of content they encounter, and question its source. Take nothing at face value, and closely scrutinize details of that content to look for anything inconsistent with reality, such as people with more or less than five fingers.
Deepfakes in the Courtroom: Problems and SolutionsBy George BellasBench and Bar, March 2025“Deepfakes” are altered or completely fabricated AI-generated images, audio, or video, that are also extremely realistic, making them difficult to discern from reality. In a sense, they’re AI’s version of photoshopping. Lawyers need to educate themselves and their firms on what deepfakes are and how to spot them, develop a healthy skepticism of content they encounter, and question its source. Take nothing at face value, and closely scrutinize details of that content to look for anything inconsistent with reality, such as people with more or less than five fingers.
Deepfakes in the Courtroom: Problems and SolutionsBy George BellasIntellectual Property, March 2025“Deepfakes” are altered or completely fabricated AI-generated images, audio, or video, that are also extremely realistic, making them difficult to discern from reality. In a sense, they’re AI’s version of photoshopping. Lawyers need to educate themselves and their firms on what deepfakes are and how to spot them, develop a healthy skepticism of content they encounter, and question its source. Take nothing at face value, and closely scrutinize details of that content to look for anything inconsistent with reality, such as people with more or less than five fingers.
Deepfakes in the Courtroom: Problems and SolutionsBy George BellasArtificial Intelligence & the Practice of Law, Standing Committee on, March 2025“Deepfakes” are altered or completely fabricated AI-generated images, audio, or video, that are also extremely realistic, making them difficult to discern from reality. In a sense, they’re AI’s version of photoshopping. Lawyers need to educate themselves and their firms on what deepfakes are and how to spot them, develop a healthy skepticism of content they encounter, and question its source. Take nothing at face value, and closely scrutinize details of that content to look for anything inconsistent with reality, such as people with more or less than five fingers.
Deepfakes in the Courtroom: Problems and SolutionsBy George BellasCivil Practice and Procedure, January 2025“Deepfakes” are altered or completely fabricated AI-generated images, audio, or video, that are also extremely realistic, making them difficult to discern from reality. In a sense, they’re AI’s version of photoshopping. Lawyers need to educate themselves and their firms on what deepfakes are and how to spot them, develop a healthy skepticism of content they encounter, and question its source. Take nothing at face value, and closely scrutinize details of that content to look for anything inconsistent with reality, such as people with more or less than five fingers.
DEI Is Dead: Long Live Economic DevelopmentBy Margery NewmanConstruction Law, November 2025An update to a February 2025 article that explored affirmative action programs in the construction industry, this article discusses the criteria for certification as a BDE and how current and future companies that are either certified DBEs or want to become certified DBEs will be required to show how they have been disadvantaged.
Detailed Discussion of Veterinarian MalpracticeBy David S. FavreAnimal Law, October 2025This article provides a short history of the development of veterinary malpractice as a cause of action and also explores the elements of a malpractice suit. It further delineates the concepts of standard of care, proximate cause, and res ipsa loquitur. Defenses to malpractice actions are also discussed.
Development of the Restorative Justice Movement in Northern IrelandBy Judge Ann Breen-GrecoAlternative Dispute Resolution, January 2025Restorative justice as a concept dates back centuries, emphasizing accountability, reparations, and community engagement over punishment. It focuses on repairing harm caused by crime through dialogue and understanding among affected parties. In Northern Ireland, the adoption of restorative practices was shaped significantly by the aftermath of “The Troubles.” Communities felt that traditional punitive approaches, especially those implemented by the British-controlled judicial system, often exacerbated mistrust and division rather than healing.
Did You Know?Real Estate Law, January 2025Some of Illinois land is described as West of the 2nd principal meridian and some as East of the 4th principal meridian.
