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Lady Justice.
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The Illinois Supreme Court invites applications from individuals interested in serving as an appointed member of the Illinois State Public Defender Commission (Commission). The Commission plays a vital role in overseeing and supporting the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD), ensuring the delivery of quality legal representation to those in need throughout Illinois.

Public Act 104-0300, also known as the Funded Advocacy and Independent Representation or “FAIR” Act was signed into law in August 2025, creating a new statewide oversight structure for the delivery of indigent defense services. The FAIR Act was developed following a 2021 report from the…
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Seeks Applicants for Illinois State Public Defender Commission

Die kleine Kammer. The small chamber.
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At its meeting on Feb. 27, 2026, the ISBA Board of Governors adopted the following statement on behalf of the Association:

The President of the United States recently admonished the U.S. Supreme Court Justices who ruled against his tariffs, describing the six justices as a “disgrace to our nation.” He further attacked the justices who ruled against his tariffs in personal terms, suggesting that they hated our country, were “disloyal to the Constitution,” and were motivated by foreign powers. Two justices who were appointed by this president, were singled out and attacked as “an embarrassment to their families.” These statements

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Continue Reading Illinois State Bar Association Statement Concerning Attacks on the Judiciary and the Erosion of Institutional Respect

DuPage County CDL violations attorneyThe more a truck weighs, the more damage the truck could potentially cause in an accident. Extremely heavy vehicles can also cause damage to roadways. Consequently, Illinois state law limits how much cargo a commercial truck such as a semi-truck can haul.
While the reasons for weight limitations are generally sound, the consequences of operating an overweight commercial vehicle can feel exorbitant. If the truck is found to be overweight – carrying more cargo than allowed by law – then the driver and his or her company can face significant fines. Depending on how far the truck is over its…
Continue Reading What Happens If a Commercial Truck Is Overweight?

There has been insufficient literature focusing on the world-changing rise of Asian wealth. Private wealth in Asia is very substantial, with 33 per cent of the global population of high-net-worth individuals based in Asia. Yet, there is a dearth of legal analysis of Asian wealth, particularly by texts written in English. This collection aims to fill that gap, with chapters on legal issues in relation to Asian wealth transmission, investments in international real estate, familial disputes, family offices and private trust companies. A substantive section of this book also focuses on the changing legal context with chapters exploring trusts and…
Continue Reading New Book: Trusts and Private Wealth Management: Developments and Directions

Chicago dog bite injury attorneyAnimal lovers are often more likely to be bitten by a dog than those who generally dislike dogs. People who love dogs are more likely to approach and try to pet any dog they encounter, while others are more likely to keep their distance from strange pets. If you were recently bitten by a dog, you may be wondering whether reporting the bite and pursuing a claim against the owner could cost the dog its life. Dog lovers often do not want this result, even if the dog in question has caused them harm. 
In Illinois, it is not likely…
Continue Reading Will the Dog Be Put Down If I Report a Bite?

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) vehemently condemns the assault on the Rule of Law that the nation watched unfold at the U.S. Capitol yesterday afternoon. The peaceful transfer of power to incoming presidential administrations and the processes that facilitate that transfer are a fundamental foundation of our democracy and have been faithfully observed and respected since the inception of the nation. The storming of the U.S. Capitol by rioters seeking to use violence to disrupt the certification of the presidential election was not only a repugnant act, but criminal activity that should be prosecuted to the full extent of…
Continue Reading The Illinois State Bar Association Condemns the Rioting and Violence at the U.S. Capitol

Don’t drink and drive. While this seems obvious, a short scenario may make this more likely. Imagine you have consumed three (3) stiff cocktails in about two hours and think your BAC is under .08 but in reality, you are just over the legal limit (.08 is over the legal limit in IL). Now imagine an even drunker driver than you swerved across the centerline and cause a head-on collision. The other driver is dead. The police arrive and can force a blood draw from you because this is now an aggravated felony DUI investigation because they smell booze on…
Continue Reading Avoid a DUI sentence in Illinois

Several days ago, I published a brief statement on Illinois Lawyer Now that has resulted in substantial response from our members. Several nights ago, we as a nation viewed federal troops in uniform clearing out peaceful demonstrators in Washington D.C. As an ISBA President who has focused on the rule of law and the legal process, I felt a statement was important. The focus of that statement missed the mark in a number of important ways. For that reason, I apologize. It is important that a few additional words be said, which go to the heart of our values as…
Continue Reading ISBA Presidential Statement

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Many couples who are looking to add a child to their family will consider adoption as an alternative to childbirth. Adopting a child can be a rewarding experience for the parents and a great benefit to a child who may otherwise grow up without a stable home. However, Illinois has a stringent adoption process in place to ensure that the child is going to a safe home. Attempting to adopt without the guidance of a family law attorney could result in frustration with the process that discourages you from completing the adoption. There are several things you should know about…
Continue Reading What to Expect from the Illinois Adoption Process

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Most workplace injuries are ones that you expect to recover from with time. You may need to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits to pay for your medical expenses and lost wages if you miss time from work. Unfortunately, some injuries cause permanent disability that will forever affect your ability to work. If your disability makes you unable to work any job, you may qualify to receive Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits for the rest of your life. Because the workers’ compensation insurer is likely to contest a PTD claim, you would need the help of a workers’ compensation…
Continue Reading Receiving Permanent Total Disability Benefits After a Work Injury

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By: Brian K. Stevens
First a caveat:  This article is not a “How To” of avoiding a DUI arrest.  If it is late at night and a police officer observes any traffic violation and then subsequently smells any amount of odor of alcohol, they will almost always find some reason to arrest the motorist for DUI. Therefore, the best that can be done on such a stop is to minimize the amount of evidence that you give to the police officer.  That way, once the matter is placed into the court system, an experienced DUI attorney can utilize the State’s…
Continue Reading TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR A DUI

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Getting into an accident with a commercial truck can result in devastating injuries to the occupants of a smaller passenger vehicle. Drivers are taught to be cautious around trucks, giving them ample space and being aware of their blind spots. However, an error by the truck driver can create a dangerous situation that other drivers are unable to avoid. Distracted driving is one of the primary causes of driver error in truck accidents. You may be able to receive personal injury compensation if you can prove that a truck driver was distracted leading up to your accident.
How Do Truck Drivers…
Continue Reading Distracted Truck Drivers Can Cause Serious Crashes

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A conviction for possessing a controlled substance is a serious offense in Illinois. Depending on the drug involved and the amount in your possession, you could face years in prison and up to $200,000 in fines. A conviction for selling or delivering a controlled substance is more costly. Both the prison time and fine can be twice as long, and prosecutors are more likely to bring additional charges that are related to the offense. Though you want to avoid a drug possession conviction, it may be the preferable option if the alternative is a conviction for possessing drugs with the intent…
Continue Reading How Is Selling Drugs Treated Differently From Possessing Drugs?

Did someone say force majeure?

Force Majeure Clauses
COVID-19 Pandemic and Force Majeure clauses

According to Black’s Law Dictionary, force majeure is defined as “An event or effect that can be neither anticipated nor controlled.”   It is generally viewed as an unexpected event that prevents someone from doing or completing something that he or she had agreed to do.  The term is usually applied to acts of God (such as floods and hurricanes), riots, strikes and wars.  It is unclear, however, if the term includes an epidemic, such as COVID-19.   That legal term for unforeseen circumstances resulting in non-fulfillment of a contract is likely…
Continue Reading After Health… Businesses Must Consider Legal & Economic Impacts of COVID-19

We called this a while back for the broadcasters, producers, and distributors challenging Missouri’s restrictions on alcohol advertising contained in the state’s three-tier “of value” and tied-house laws and regulations. 
You can read our analysis and a description of the issues in our prior posts on the case, here, here, here, and here.
You’ll note this has been bouncing around for a while now as the state originally won a motion to dismiss the lawsuit challenging certain Missouri liquor advertising restrictions as violative of the First Amendment. The 8th Circuit reversed that decision finding that the broadcasters, alcohol distributors and…
Continue Reading In blow to three-tier restrictions, 8th Circuit rules state alcohol advertising laws violate the First Amendment.