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Republican representatives are shown at a March news conference in Springfield where they promoted bills aimed at protecting human trafficking victims. Pictured at the podium is Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore. Other lawmakers from left are Rep. Brad Stephens, R-Rosemont; Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Homer Glen and Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro, R-Hanover Park. – Andrew Campbell/ Capitol News Illinois

Illinois House GOP advances 2 trafficking victim bills

After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking.
By Cole Longcor
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Auditors can’t locate former St. Louis circuit attorney for state audit

A state examination of the office that handles criminal prosecutions in St. Louis is being delayed because auditors can’t find former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said Monday.
By Jim Salter
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High-stakes antitrust case against Google wraps up

Google’s preeminence as an internet search engine is an illegal monopoly propped up by more than $20 billion spent each year by the tech giant to lock out competition, Justice Department lawyers argued at the closings of a high-stakes antitrust lawsuit.
By Matthew Barakat
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Illinois House Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access

Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot.
By Jerry Nowicki, Hannah Meisel and Peter Hancock

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.
By Patricia Manson

Chapter 13 trustees not entitled to fee if repayment plan rejected

Debtors who make payments to the bankruptcy trustee under their proposed Chapter 13 repayment plans are entitled to the return of the entire amount of money if the plan is not confirmed, a federal appeals court ruled.
By Patricia Manson

FBI must reveal more information on Muslim surveillance

The FBI must remove some redactions related to race and nationality on documents from an operation in which it surveilled Arab and Muslim communities in Bridgeview.
By Grace Barbic

Mootness, anonymity to be weighed in Title IX suit against Loyola

A former Loyola University student who alleged discrimination after being expelled for sexual misconduct can proceed with his suit.
By Emma Oxnevad

US seeks information from Tesla on Autopilot recall

Federal highway safety investigators want Tesla to tell them how and why it developed the fix in a recall of more than 2 million vehicles equipped with the company’s Autopilot partially automated driving system.
By Tom Krisher

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Contributors

Trial Notebook

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Prosecutor suspended for inappropriate comments

Accused of violating an Iowa rule that says it is professional misconduct for an attorney to “engage in sexual harassment or other unlawful discrimination in the practice of law,” the top prosecutor in Wapello County argued that comments he allegedly made to his staff about defendants, judges and his predecessor were protected by his First Amendment right to free speech.
By Steven P. Garmisa

Insurance Matters

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Court assesses facts necessary to decide insurer duty to defend

The 1st District Appellate Court recently addressed the limits of “extraneous” facts to be taken into account in deciding whether a complaint against an insured gives rise to a duty to defend.
By Don R. Sampen

Lawyers’ Forum

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Trial-setting preference law deserves to be protected

Imagine you are terminally ill with blood cancer acquired from chemical exposure at work, wondering how to assure your teenage children that they will be OK without you. Or you and your husband of 55 years were rear-ended on the expressway and your husband died in your arms. You are now an 80-year-old widow suffering from the trauma of that accident. Or you’re an active retiree who fractured a hip when the casino bus prematurely closed its door on you. You’re healing, but you’re 96 years old and realistic. None of these people have much time left.
By Kathy Byrne

Cotter’s Corner

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CBA to mark sesquicentennial with gala, inaugural award

The Chicago Bar Association turns 150 years old May 27 and continues to be a vibrant, relevant association of lawyers. Come out this Friday to help celebrate.
By Daniel A. Cotter

Sports Marketing Playbook

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Roberto Clemente family battles Puerto Rico over license plates

Trademarks can provide a lucrative revenue stream for sports stars and generate significant income for their families long after the athletes’ deaths. Conflicts over trademark rights usually erupt between an athlete’s family and businesses seeking to capitalize on a player’s brand.
By Douglas N. Masters and Seth A. Rose

Opening Statement

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‘Purpose’ brings family drama, politics to light

In the playbill for the Steppenwolf Theatre production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ world premiere of “Purpose,” artistic directors Audrey Francis and Glenn Davis announce that “since the beginning, family drama has been this company’s signature.”
By Julian J. Frazin

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.
By Julian J. Frazin

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.
By Julian J. Frazin

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.
By Douglas N. Masters and Seth A. Rose
All Contributors

Social Scene

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Judges join Polish parade

Members of the Polish American Judges Association ride in a float Saturday at the 2024 Polish Constitution Day Parade in Chicago. The 134th annual parade celebrated the 1791 signing of the Polish Constitution. Pictured left to right from top row are judges Diann Marsalek, Stephen Kozicki, Diane Pezanoski, Audrey Cosgrove,  Daniel Kubasiak,  Jonathan Clark Green  and  James Pieczonka. Photo courtesy of Polish American Judges Association
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New Cook Circuit judges sworn in

Ten of 12 new and existing judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County were sworn in Monday at the Bilandic Building in Chicago after their recent appointments ahead of the fall election. From left: John A. Fairman, Pablo F. deCastro, Nadine J. Wichern, Rivanda Doss Beal, Audrey V. Cosgrove, Michael M. Chvatal, Jeffrey G. Chrones, Griselda Vega Samuel, Lloyd James Brooks and James V. Murphy. State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and justices Joy V. Cunningham, P. Scott Neville Jr. and Elizabeth M. Rochford also attended. Photo courtesy Illinois Courts
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Prejean speaks at Catholic Lawyers Guild event

Sister Helen Prejean, a nun and death penalty opponent whose story was depicted in “Dead Man Walking,” joined the Catholic Lawyers Guild this month for a community event. Prejean, center, is shown with attendees including Illinois Supreme Court Justices Elizabeth M. Rochford and Joy V. Cunningham, appellate justice Jesse G. Reyes and former Gov. Pat Quinn. Photo by Kaisa Roseth-Johnson
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ABOTA hosts Law Day event

The Illinois Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) hosted its annual Law Day luncheon this month at the Union League Club. ABOTA Illinois past president Timothy Tomasik of Tomasik Kotin Kasserman and president Jill Webb of the Law Offices of Jill M. Webb presented Cook County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Panarese with a plaque in recognition of his dedication to judicial independence. Panarese spoke on the topic of judicial security. Photo courtesy of ABOTA

Special Publications

JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards 2023

JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards 2023

The commemorative magazine for the 2023 Jury Verdict Reporter Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards is now available!

Over 350 were in attendance as thirty-four professionals from both sides of the trial bar received individual Trial Lawyer Excellence awards in one of fifteen 2023 categories.
Women in Law 2023

Women in Law 2023

The 4th class for Women in Law

Meet the exceptional women recognized in our 4th annual Women in Law awards.
40 Under Forty 2023

40 Under Forty 2023

Law Bulletin Media announces the Class of 2023

Success at any age is impressive. But to achieve it at an early age is even more of a feat. Congratulations to 40 Under Forty honorees for 2023.

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Photo gallery with Top Stories

Republican representatives are shown at a March news conference in Springfield where they promoted bills aimed at protecting human trafficking victims. Pictured at the podium is Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore. Other lawmakers from left are Rep. Brad Stephens, R-Rosemont; Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Homer Glen and Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro, R-Hanover Park.
May
07
Tue

Illinois House GOP advances 2 trafficking victim bills
Republican Scott Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters after being sworn in as Missouri’s new state auditor on Jan. 9, 2023. Fitzpatrick said on Monday that an audit of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office is delayed because officials in his office can’t locate former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner.
May
06
Mon

Auditors can’t locate former St. Louis circuit attorney for state audit
People arrive at the recently opened Google building in New York on Feb. 26. The DOJ and Google made their closing arguments Friday in a high-stakes antitrust trial to a federal judge in Washington who must now decide whether the tech giant’s search engine constitutes an illegal monopoly.
May
03
Fri

High-stakes antitrust case against Google wraps up
State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, speaks at a news conference on a first floor Capitol stairwell to criticize Democrats’ proposed changes to state election laws.
May
02
Thu

Illinois House Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access
Mario Treto Jr., secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, testifies before the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules in April about the final adoption of rules to implement the 2021 Illinois Community Reinvestment Act.
May
01
Wed

Illinois poised to enforce law to end lending discrimination
This photo provided by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum shows a document signed by President Lincoln in April 1861 ordering the blockade of southern United States ports after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter started the Civil War.
Apr
30
Tue

Pritzkers donate Lincoln’s Civil War order to Illinois