Trial Briefs

The newsletter of the ISBA’s Section on Civil Practice & Procedure

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2026 Articles

2026 Annual Meeting Photos August 2026 ISBA members and guests gathered at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis on June 11–12, 2026, for the Annual Meeting, which featured outstanding CLE programming, networking, and business meetings. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the Annual Meeting a success!
The AI Ethics Overlay Has Entered the Illinois Courtroom By George Bellas August 2026 For Illinois lawyers, the AI Ethics Overlay and the evidence overlay are no longer separate conversations. They are two sides of the same professional obligation. AI can help lawyers work faster and better, but it also gives opposing counsel new lines of attack. The lawyer who governs AI carefully in the office will be better prepared to authenticate it, challenge it, and explain it in court.
Become an Illinois Bar Foundation Champion By Jessica R. Durkin January 2026 At 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?
Chair’s Column By Harry Dubnick August 2026 A note from the new Chair of the Civil Practice & Procedure Section Council, discussing the current newsletter issue and planned efforts from the Council in the upcoming bar year. 
FOIA Case Law Update By Matthew Harte May 2026 A summary of three recent appellate court cases that discuss when a public body is deemed to have received an electronic FOIA request, when delayed production may expose a public body to civil penalties, and whether a court may shift the burden of in camera review to a special master.
The Forum Non Conveniens Doctrine in Refiled Suits By Jeffrey A. Parness May 2026 The Fifth District Appellate Court, in Richardson v. Husain, recently determined that a plaintiff's second choice of forum is entitled to "substantial deference," while one justice emphasized the importance of "public interest factors" when analyzing forum non conveniens challenges. 
Hyman’s Holdings: Gnats, Camels, and Litigators By Justice Michael B. Hyman January 2026 In his column, Hyman's Holdings, featured in the Civil Practice & Procedure Newsletter, Justice Hyman explores various topics related to the legal profession. 
Hyman’s Holdings: When One Is Greater Than Two By Justice Michael B. Hyman May 2026 In his column, Hyman's Holdings, featured in the Civil Practice & Procedure Newsletter, Justice Hyman explores various topics related to the legal profession.
Lawyers Must Build Technical Competence Before Claiming AI Competence By George Bellas January 2026 Artificial intelligence is becoming an inevitable component of practicing law, but before implementing AI into your practice, ensure you have the correct technological competency to satisfy your ethical obligations. 
Lessons From Skarbek v. Woodman’s Food Market: Absence of Rule 222(b) Affidavit Not a Proper Basis for Dismissing Complaint By Laura Castagna May 2026 In Skarbek v. Woodman’s Food Market, the Second District held that a circuit clerk may not reject a complaint simply because it lacks an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 222(b) affidavit. This case reinforces the narrow scope of the clerk’s authority to reject filings. There are 24 permissible rejection categories under Rule 9; be familiar with those categories!
Pleading on Information and Belief: Time for a Change By Cathy A. Pilkington January 2026 Pleading "on information and belief" is an accepted part of pleading in Illinois; however, codified guidance from the legislature could provide needed clarity for the pleading stage. 
Risks of Lawyers Posting on Social Media Case-Related Information Before or During a Jury Trial By Tim Eaton August 2026 In the case of Kroft v. Viper Trans, Inc., Cindy Kroft was injured after being rear-ended by a tractor trailer. She sued the driver of the tractor trailer, his company, and another company that leased the trailer. There were two jury trials in this case. The lesson to be learned is lawyers should not post anything on social media relating to their client’s impending trial, or during a trial, where it may be viewed as trying to influence the jury.