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The U.S. government is updating the way it categorizes race and ethnicity for the first time in 27 years. The changes will be reflected in data collection, forms, surveys and the census, and businesses, universities and other groups usually follow Washington’s lead. “It feels good to be seen,” said Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani, whose parents are from Iran. – AP Photo/John Raoux

U.S. changes the way it categorizes race, ethnicity

For the first time in 27 years, the U.S. government is changing how it categorizes people by race and ethnicity, an effort that federal officials believe will more accurately count residents who identify as Hispanic and of Middle Eastern and North African heritage.
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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.

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.

Request to toss prison term over judge’s ex parte emails fails

A defendant who maintains his lawyer bungled the job by failing to argue on appeal that the trial judge should have recused himself from the case lost a bid for a new sentencing hearing.

Suit revived against SIU Medicine over post-surgery injury

Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine must face a lawsuit alleging one of its surgeons caused pain and permanent injury by leaving impacted gauze in a patient’s nose after surgery, a state appellate panel ruled.

ISBA president-elect faces DUI charge

Lockport city attorney and Illinois State Bar Association president-elect Sonni Choi Williams is facing a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence (DUI), but a judge ruled Tuesday that there was no probable cause to warrant suspending her driving privileges.

Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison

Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud on hundreds of thousands of customers that unraveled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world’s most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.

Courts & Cases

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Contributors

Trial Notebook

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Court weighs informed consent on alternative treatment options

With no local precedent on an important aspect of informed consent in a malpractice case against an emergency medicine physician, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals looked at “the primary cases” from other jurisdictions on “the duty to inform the patient of alternative treatment options.”

For the Defense

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Revival of old toxic tort claims raises major due process issues

In what will likely be a momentous decision for Illinois business, the Illinois Supreme court has agreed to take three certified questions from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

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?

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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