2025 Joint Midyear Meeting PhotosFebruary 2026The Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association proudly co-hosted the 2025 Joint Midyear Meeting on December 11–12 at the JW Marriott Chicago, bringing members of the legal community together for two days of connection and collaboration.
Become an Illinois Bar Foundation ChampionBy Jessica R. DurkinFebruary 2026At least twice a year at ISBA Annual and Midyear Meetings, we are pitched by colleagues and the Illinois Bar Foundation to become a “Champion.” But what is a Champion really, and what’s in it for us?
Dual Roles in Illinois Child-Welfare Proceedings: Detailed Analysis of In re E.L. and In re D.S.By Pedram HossMay 2026By focusing on In re E.L. and examining related cases, it is clear that Illinois courts approve dual representation when the attorney’s advocacy aligns with the child’s best interests and no concrete conflict exists. Courts and practitioners should continue to evaluate each case individually, ensuring that representation remains faithful to the child’s welfare and grounded in statutory authority and judicial precedent.
Family vs. Fosters: When Competing Adoption Petitions Create Court ConundrumsBy Sean McCumberFebruary 2026In a situation where the child has been under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services for over two years, with loving foster parents, what happens when the foster parents file an adoption petition and a family member immediately, but subsequently, files their own adoption petition? This query causes problems and raises many questions over what the court should do.
Lessons From Child First Approach in Northern IrelandBy Kelly CassidyMarch 2026The juvenile justice system of the United States could take cues from other countries to better align with the United Nations Compact on the Rights of the Child. This article offers a reflection of society after an exploration of Northern Ireland's approach to children in conflict with the law.
Meet Hon. Kathryn Maloney Vahey, the New Deputy Presiding in the Juvenile Justice Division in Cook CountyBy Elizabeth ClarkeMarch 2026The goal of the new Deputy Presiding Judge in the Juvenile Justice Division of Cook County is to create a model system with a culture rooted in positive outcomes, change policies and practices in the JTDC, speed up the processing and release of children in short-term detention stays, and address the need for new leadership.
Rethinking Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights in Illinois: A Call for Reform to Reflect Modern Family RealitiesBy Mollie PeskindMay 2026As the law currently stands, Illinois courts cannot terminate a parent’s rights, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, unless there is an adoptive parent prepared to assume the legal and financial responsibilities for the child under the Illinois Adoption Act, or the child is adjudicated a ward of the state pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act. These two pathways, while well-intentioned, fail to account for situations in which a parent is clearly unfit under existing statutory standards, yet no suitable adoptive placement exists, and the circumstances do not warrant state intervention through a wardship proceeding.
The “Scarlet-I”: When Indication Becomes a MarkBy Amanda VeselyFebruary 2026An analysis of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ Allegation #60: Branding parents or caregivers for what might have happened rather than what did. Child protection and due process can coexist, but only if risk is measured with restraint, evidence, and fairness.
Terminating Guardianship & Returning the Child to a Parent: Reconciling Best Interests With the Parental PresumptionBy Sean McCumberMay 2026Guardianship of a minor under the Illinois Probate Act is frequently born of crisis. What guardianship is not, however, is a termination of parental rights. It is a protective device, designed to ensure that a child has someone legally able to act on the child’s behalf. Yet, when the parent stabilizes and seeks to terminate the guardianship, the legal terrain can become far more complex than the statute’s language might suggest. There is not just an automatic return home.
When and How to Seek Guardianship of a Minor in IllinoisBy Sean EndresMay 2026Deciding whether to seek guardianship for a minor can range from straightforward to deeply emotional. In some cases, guardianship is pursued for a limited, practical reason, such as enabling a minor to receive funds from a probate estate or personal injury settlement. In others, it involves difficult questions about a child’s care, safety, and long-term well-being when parents are unavailable or unable to provide proper care.
