notary-4-24-24,ph01 — Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the launch of a new “E-Notary” portal that allows Illinois residents who need a notary public to access those services online. – Capitol News Illinois/ Andrew Adams

Illinoisans can now have documents notarized online

Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office.

By Alex Abbeduto

Supreme Court appears to side with Starbucks in dispute with NLRB

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared to side with Starbucks Tuesday in a case that could make it harder for the federal government to seek injunctions when it suspects a company of interfering in unionization campaigns.

By Dee-Ann Durbin

Ghost guns, outdoor sleeping bans reach U.S. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to take up a Biden administration appeal over the regulation of difficult-to-trace ghost guns that had been struck down by lower courts.

By Mark Sherman

Pritzker’s health insurance reforms clear House

Gov. J.B. Pritzker celebrated a partial legislative victory Thursday night when the House passed his initiative to end some practices health insurance companies use to control the amount and cost of health care services individual patients receive.

By Peter Hancock

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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

Wood leaving 7th Circuit to join American Law Institute

Diane P. Wood, who is retiring from the 7th Circuit bench this month, spoke at a luncheon in her honor Wednesday at the Union League Club.

By Patricia Manson

ARDC board advises suspension for misusing trust income

An attorney who misappropriated more than $11,300 in trust funds should be suspended for one year, according to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission hearing board.

By Emma Oxnevad

Supreme Court weighs idea of total presidential immunity

The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared likely to reject former President Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from prosecution over election interference, but it seemed possible Trump could still benefit from a lengthy trial delay, possibly beyond November’s election.

By Mark Sherman

New York appeals court overturns Weinstein rape conviction

New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with “egregious” improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.

By Michael R. Sisak and Dave Collins

CDLB People

Greenberg Traurig LLP added Matthew J. Whited as a shareholder in the firm’s corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity practices.

Michael Best added Robb P. Angus as senior counsel to its privacy and cybersecurity sub-group.

Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum Nagelberg promoted Steve Schram to chief financial officer.

CDLB People

Another judge rejects 7th Circuit case on standing

Seven weeks after a district judge in New York rejected the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal’s approach to standing for breach-of-contract claims under Article III of the U.S. Constitution, a judge in the District of Columbia added his thoughts on why Dinerstein v. Google, 73 F.4th 502 (7th Cir. 2023), is wrong.

By Steven P. Garmisa

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

‘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

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

‘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.

By Julian J. Frazin

UChicago Law tops 2023 federal clerkship hiring market

The University of Chicago Law School is back at No. 1 on the list of law schools that sent the highest percentage of graduates into federal clerkships, Reuters reports. UChicago Law sent 25.35% of its 2023 graduates into federal judicial clerkships, according to data from the American Bar Association. It claimed the top clerkship spot in both 2020 and 2021, but dropped below Stanford Law School and Yale Law School in 2022. Yale closely followed in 2023 with 24.11% of its J.D.s landing federal clerkships, followed by Stanford at 20.77%. The University of Notre Dame Law School was next with 18.18% of graduates in federal clerkships, followed by the University of Michigan Law School at 14.01%.

Former judge in England proposes pop-up courts in ‘pubs and libraries’

A former judge in England is proposing that jurists host legal proceedings in settings that include pubs, church halls, libraries and supermarkets to make justice more accessible to people, The Times reports. Anne Rafferty maintains that such a move would help restore the public’s faith in the criminal justice system. Hosting hearings in new venues also would help reduce the courts’ backlog of cases, Rafferty says. She proposes first holding coroner’s inquests outside of courthouses as a pilot project. Rafferty formerly served on the Court of Appeal and the High Court.

FCC restores net neutrality to regulate internet providers

The Federal Communications Commission voted to restore “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&T from favoring some sites and apps over others, the Associated Press reports. The move effectively reinstates a net neutrality order the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration. It was repealed in 2017 under then-President Donald Trump. The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

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UChicago Law tops 2023 federal clerkship hiring market

Former judge in England proposes pop-up courts in ‘pubs and libraries’

FCC restores net neutrality to regulate internet providers

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Illinoisans can now have documents notarized online

Supreme Court appears to side with Starbucks in dispute with NLRB

Ghost guns, outdoor sleeping bans reach U.S. Supreme Court

Pritzker’s health insurance reforms clear House

Boeing put under Senate scrutiny over safety culture

Ruling eases way to sue for job bias in forced transfers