Bench & Bar

The newsletter of the ISBA’s Bench & Bar Section

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2023 Articles

Absolute Immunity – Well, Not Quite By Michael Cortina June 2023 The general rule of thumb is that so long as a judge has subject matter jurisdiction over a particular case, that judge was absolutely immune from suit relating to the court’s rulings. But as with most rules, there are exceptions.
Access to Justice Subcommittee Update By Kaylan Huber February 2023 An update from the most recent Access to Justice Subcommittee meeting.
Artificial Intelligence Update By Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr, Judge Michael Chmiel, & Edward Casmere December 2023 An introduction to the various artificial advancements impacting the legal industry and steps governments and private sector groups have taken to protect against the concerns such technology raises.
1 comment (Most recent December 29, 2023)
Becoming the First Black Woman Judge in DuPage County: The Honorable Judge Chantelle Porter By Kenya Jenkins-Wright June 2023 A spotlight on Judge Chantelle Porter, the first black woman to become a judge in DuPage County.
Duty or Not…That Is the Question By Albert E. Durkin, Florina Bandula, & Lee Smith, III February 2023 Slanger v. Advanced Urgent Care, et. al. is a reminder that “duty of care” is not as cut and dried as tort law professors teach students in law school.
Emeritus Council of the Illinois Judges Association By Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, (ret.) December 2023 The Emeritus Council of the Illinois Judges Association is a new program designed to help judges who believe they have been subjected to unfair criticism or media coverage.
Fighting Bullying in the Legal Profession: An Opportunity for Change By Eli Goldstein October 2023 Uncivil behavior and bullying tarnish the legal profession’s reputation and deter diversity in the field.
GIPA: The Next Front for Illinois Privacy Litigation? By Nick Kahlon & Blake Kolesa April 2023 Until recently, there were no lawsuits brought under the Genetic Information Privacy Act.
Giving Back to the Profession By Pamela Sakowicz Menaker October 2023 Lawyers have a significant role to play in society and giving back to the profession and the community is of utmost importance.
Illinois Supreme Court History: Women and Juries By John A. Lupton February 2023 An overview of how women won the right to serve on juries.
Illinois Supreme Court M.R. 5272 August 2023 The 2024 Illinois courts holiday schedule.
The Investiture of Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford By Daniel E. O’Brien February 2023 Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford was sworn into the Illinois Supreme Court in December 2022.
Judicial Code … Judicial Elections … What You Need to Know for 2024 By Ann Jorgensen December 2023 A new Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct was approved by the Illinois Supreme Court in July 2022 and became effective on January 1, 2023. 
Kane County Public Defender’s Office Commemorates Gideon v. Wainwright Anniversary April 2023 The Kane County Public Defender’s Office commemorated the 60th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright with a luncheon and a celebration of the work done by public defenders.
Longing for Authenticity: The Human Connection in a Digital Workplace By Christopher A. Garcia December 2023 For over two years, young associates missed out on the rhythms, dialect, and grammar of oral arguments—skills that are not learned on social media.
Michael G. Bergmann Receive Certificate of Appreciation June 2023 The outgoing chair, Michael G. Bergmann, received a certificate of appreciation at the 2023 ISBA Annual Meeting in Chicago.
The New Venue Statute: Fueling Age Old Debate Between Legislative and Judicial Authority By Judge Judy Cates October 2023 In June 2023, Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3062 and a new venue statute went into effect.
Norfolk Southern Distinguishes But Does Not Derail Daimler By Michael Cortina August 2023 On June 27, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., which pertains to general personal jurisdiction that courts have over the parties in a suit.
Recent Appointments and Retirements December 2023 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.
Recent Appointments and Retirements October 2023 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.
Recent Appointments and Retirements August 2023 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.
Recent Appointments and Retirements June 2023 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.
Recent Appointments and Retirements April 2023 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.
Recent Appointments and Retirements February 2023 Recent changes to Illinois' judiciary.
Senior Travels By Judge Barb Crowder, (ret.) June 2023 Reflections on recent travel that highlight the intersection of reality and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Skip-the-Line Program – Eliminating the ‘Time Tax’ to Serve You Better By Alexi Giannoulias August 2023 The Secretary of State's “Skip-the-Line Program” is an important step to improve the customer experience using a multi-pronged approach designed to eliminate the unpredictability of wait times at Driver and Motor Vehicle facilities that Illinoisans have experienced for far too long.
Update on the ISBA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiatives Regarding Disability and Disabled People By Patti Chang February 2023 Updates on the ISBA's diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives with respect to disability and disabled people.
The Value of a Narrative Response in Family Law Cases By Judge James A. Shapiro & Adam R. Heusinkveld December 2023 In domestic relations matters, many practitioners follow practice conventions that defy statutory rules governing pleading in civil matters and forgo the opportunity to educate the court by providing written argument and citation to case law in support of legal positions—most often, this occurs in the context of responding to motions.
Who Can Cage a Bird Once it Has Flown: Does AI Have Humanity in a Lurch? By E. Kenneth Wright, Jr October 2023 Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and while we need to proceed with caution and have a regulatory scheme in place, we must also recognize the undeniable benefits it presents.