Bench & Bar

By Edward Schoenbaum Jr. (Ret.)

An introduction from Editor Ed Schoenbaum.

By Hon. Jesse G. Reyes

Judge Jesse Reyes describes his recent tour of the United Kingdom's Supreme Court. 

By Hon. Barbara Crowder

A discussion of the 2017 changes made thus far to Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction for Civil Cases since the revisions focus on language access.

By Edward Casmere

The point of this article is not to advocate for a campaign of carpet-bombing legal briefs and arguments with quotes from Shakespeare, but rather to suggest that this giant of the literary world has gifted lawyers with timeless insights that may help us better “suit the action to the word, the word to the action” as we practice our craft.

By Evan Bruno

In Champaign County, where author Evan Bruno practices criminal law, Bunny’s Tavern in Urbana is every Wednesday’s lunch spot. Any lawyer or judge, regardless of practice area or experience, is welcome. Every legal community needs such a lunch table.

By Emily A. Hansen

On September 20, 2017, the Illinois Supreme Court will decide In Re the Marriage of Christine Goesel and Andrew Goesel, which will forever shape the future of interim fee awards in dissolution proceedings and will directly impact how divorce attorneys handle payments from their clients.

By Albert E. Durkin

On August 17, the Second District Appellate Court ruled that strict compliance with Supreme Court Rule 191(a) is mandatory and that failure to attach documents relied upon in support of a 191(a) affidavit is fatal.

By Robert H. Riley & Brian O. Watson

The Seventh Circuit recently rejected the plaintiff’s expert’s causation theory that “each and every exposure” or the “cumulative exposure” may satisfy the plaintiff’s causation burden.

Recent changes to Illinois' Judiciary.