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Actor Jussie Smollett walks with family members into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in November 2021 for jury selection at his trial in Chicago. – AP File Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Illinois Supreme Court to hear Smollett appeal, 10 others

The Illinois Supreme Court agreed to consider actor Jussie Smollett’s appeal of his disorderly conduct conviction for lying about an alleged hate crime, along with accepting five civil Petition for Leave to Appeal dispositions.
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Illinois state police force looks to recruit more women

The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother — both of whom worked in law enforcement.
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Court to confront abortion again in medication case

The Supreme Court will again wade into the fractious issue of abortion this week when it hears arguments over a medication used in the most common way to end a pregnancy, a case with profound implications for millions of women no matter where they live in America and, perhaps, for the race for the White House.
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DOJ accuses Apple of illegal smartphone monopoly

The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors, stifles innovation and keeps prices artificially high.

Top feature

Judge Jeffrey Cummings draws wisdom from practice of law, music

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings of the Northern District of Illinois understands that most people involved in a legal dispute invest their emotions as well as their time and resources in the case.

State bills would further regulate EV battery storage

Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval.

NCAA president urges states to ban prop betting on college athletes

The NCAA wants states with legal wagering on sporting events to ban prop bets on college athletes.

Manhattan driving toll OK’d amid lawsuits

New York is on track to become the first U.S. city with congestion tolls on drivers entering its central business district after transit officials approved a $15 fee for most motorists headed into part of Manhattan.

Split court lets Indiana ban gender care for minors — for now

A divided federal appeals court stood by its decision to let the state of Indiana ban gender-affirming care for minors while it fights a preliminary injunction prohibiting it from banning such care for minors.

Courts & Cases

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Contributors

Trial Notebook

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Judge seeks help on interference by subsidiary in diversity case

In a diversity case governed by Indiana law, a federal judge in Fort Wayne had to figure out whether a corporate subsidiary can be held liable for tortiously interfering “with the contracts and business relationships of another corporate subsidiary when both subsidiaries are owned by the same corporate parent.”

Be That Lawyer

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Zoom networking holds edge over in-person — or does it?

To say that the last four years of running a business or law practice has been interesting would be an understatement. In one year, we went from 95% in-person networking to 100% via Zoom.

Realty Check

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Real estate groups launch effort to protect lawyers’ role in deals

Have you ever thought it fathomable that another professional group, untrained in the law, could deem your practice unnecessary and, as a result, stop you from doing your work as a lawyer?

Cotter’s Corner

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How far is too far for officials to go under 1st Amendment?

Confirmation biases appeared to be in full bloom recently when Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made a comment about the hamstringing of the government in Murthy v. Missouri.

Opening Statement

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Goodman’s ‘Penelopiad’ makes myth beautifully contemporary

In 2005, celebrated author Margaret Atwood (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) responded to Canadian publisher Jamie Byng’s commission to solicit contemporary authors to rewrite ancient myths with “The Penelopiad.” The novella set forth her current interpretation of Homer’s classic “The Odyssey,” the tale in which Odysseus leaves his bride, Penelope, for 10 years to fight in the Trojan War.

Opening Statement

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‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ ‘Flyover Chicago’ offer entertainment for entire family

The late Robin Williams has always been one of my favorite actors and comedians. His brilliant career included many celebrated performances such as those in “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Dead Poets Society,” as well as Academy Award-winning in “Good Will Hunting.” Unfortunately, his career tragically came to an end when he committed suicide at 63.

Sports Marketing Playbook

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As NFL protects lucrative Super Bowl IP, some businesses retort

By now, everyone knows that brands pay big bucks to air commercials during the Super Bowl. This year, advertisers shelled out roughly $7 million for a 30-second spot, for an estimated total of $650 million, according to estimates by the Sports Business Journal.

Opening Statement

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‘Just for Us’ brings back golden age of standup comedy

Back in the day, standup comedians used to be a dominant force in Chicago. There was Shelley Berman, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen. By coincidence, they were all Jewish, as were many of their female counterparts such as Joan Rivers, Elaine May and Totie Fields.

Opening Statement

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From ‘Richard III’ to ‘Champion,’ Chicago has something for everyone

I had the pleasure of seeing three excellent, but different, examples of performing arts over the past week.

Social Scene

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Justinian Society of Lawyers awards grants

The Justinian Society of Lawyers hosted its 22nd annual Children’s Endowment Fund Grant Reception at Lux Bar and gave grants of $5,000 each to Almost Home Kids and La Casa Norte. Shown from left are Justinian Society president Michael D. Pisano of Ice Miller, Jose M. Munoz of La Casa Norte, endowment fund chairman Frank A. Sommario of Romanucci & Blandin, Raeann P. Olsen-Jackson of Almost Home Kids, and endowment fund founder Antonio M. Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin. Photo courtesy of Justinian Society
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Polish-American Attorneys officers installed

The Association of Polish-American Attorneys hosted its annual Installation Dinner and Award of Merit Feb. 29 at the Union League Club of Chicago. Incoming president Hon. Michael J. Chmiel was sworn in by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford. Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans administered the oath to officers Hon. Thomas E. Nowinski, Kathy E. Bojczuk, Roman Drewniak, Julia Jensen Smolka, Hon. Michele Gemskie and Alon Stein. The Award of Merit was presented by Hon. Aurelia M. Pucinski to Marta Almodovar, a Chicago lawyer born in Poland. Photo courtesy of The Association of Polish-American Attorneys
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BWLA honors black judges

The Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago hosted its annual Judicial Reception at Jones Day. BWLA honored the accomplishments of the newly admitted Black women federal judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the Northern District of Illinois and recognized the journey that led to the unprecedented number of Black federal judges currently on the bench. Photo courtesy of BWLA
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Dickerson Awards honor lawyers, judges

The Chicago Bar Association hosted its Earl B. Dickerson Awards Feb. 15 at the Union League Club to recognize minority lawyers and judges. Honored were Judge Maryam Ahmad, attorney Christopher C. Cooper, Commission on Professionalism executive director Erika N.L. Harold, Office of the Illinois Attorney General Chief of Staff Nathalina A. Hudson, attorney Byron F. Taylor and Justice Carl A. Walker. Also pictured are Justice Joy V. Cunningham, CBA First Vice President John Sciaccotta and CBA President Roy J. Koenig III. Photo by Rena Naltsas

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