2025 Joint Midyear Meeting PhotosMarch 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.
Federal Court Upholds Illinois Interchange Fee Statute and Rejects Commerce Clause ChallengeBy Jake A. LeahyMarch 2026In 2024, the General Assembly passed the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which prohibits credit card transaction fees from being assessed against the portion of a bill attributable to taxes or tips. On February 10, 2026, Judge Virginia Kendall of the Northern District of Illinois largely upheld the state law. The IBA has indicated its intent to appeal the decision, setting the stage for further appellate guidance on the limits of state regulation in the web that is the modern payment ecosystem.
One Year After Wisconsin v. Catholic Charities, Illinois Appellate Court Decides First Religious Exemption CaseBy Jake A. LeahyApril 2026The First District Appellate Court invoked the holding of Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin, a United States Supreme Court case, determining that The Salvation Army is a church as a matter of settled law, and therefore services performed in its employ fall outside the Act’s definition of employment, regardless of whether those services are religious in nature.
