Illinois

Following repeat problems with remote bar exam, California releases investigation findings

Updated: Out of more than 7,000 people who took the July 2021 California bar exam, about 31% experienced software issues. But those problems didn't result in losses of testing time, the State Bar of California announced Monday.

Sep 28, 2021 10:51 AM CDT

Lawyer accused of calling opposing counsel ‘lowlife bottom-feeder’ says term was ‘entirely truthful and accurate’

Updated: A suburban Chicago lawyer has admitted that he called a judge a clown and an opposing lawyer a “lowlife bottom-feeder,” but he said his comments were truthful or constitutionally protected speech.

Sep 8, 2021 12:05 PM CDT

Family law judge backtracks on visitation order for mom regarding COVID-19 vaccine

After entering an order sua sponte to suspend a parent’s visitation rights until she received the COVID-19 vaccine, an Illinois family law judge revisited the issue Monday with a new order striking the restriction. The Cook County, Illinois, action involves Rebecca Firlit and Matthew Duiven, who divorced seven years ago…

Aug 30, 2021 11:32 AM CDT

Appeals court vacates $1,000-per-day sanction against BigLaw lawyer

The Illinois Appellate Court's Second District has vacated a $1,000-per-day sanction imposed against a Winston & Strawn lawyer who refused to turn over emails in discovery in expectation of a contempt order that would allow for an appeal.

Aug 18, 2021 3:45 PM CDT

ABA House encourages prosecutors to collect and publish case data

The ABA Criminal Justice Section proposed a resolution to the House of Delegates during the ABA Hybrid Annual Meeting on Tuesday that focuses on improving prosecutors' collection of case data.

Aug 10, 2021 10:59 AM CDT

Public defenders say modified ShotSpotter coordinates were used to implicate client; is it a widespread problem?

Updated: Gunshot detection technology known as ShotSpotter has been used as evidence in 190 court cases even as some critics raise questions about the technology.

Jul 27, 2021 11:24 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 7 federal death penalty requests withdrawn; ex-lawyer sentenced for advice on supplements

DOJ withdraws death penalty requests The U.S. Department of Justice has withdrawn requests for the death penalty in seven cases, reversing the stance taken by the department during the Trump administration. The DOJ is still seeking the death penalty in appeals of two other cases—that of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar…

Jul 23, 2021 2:32 PM CDT

Illinois bans practice of lying to minors during police interrogations

Illinois is now the only state in the country that prohibits police from lying to minors during interrogations.

Jul 16, 2021 3:15 PM CDT

Saying yes has been part of this law school dean’s strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Leadership involves taking in a variety of viewpoints, says law dean Hari Osofsky, and recognizing what students, professors and administration want is a good way to guarantee people that they are being heard.

Jun 28, 2021 8:48 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Crowell merger announced; judge reverses himself on juror vaccinations

Crowell & Moring will merge with IP firm Crowell & Moring is merging with Chicago-based Brinks Gilson & Lione, a 61-lawyer intellectual property law firm. Crowell will have more than 625 lawyers after the merger, with new offices in Chicago and Indianapolis. Crowell has also begun a process with the…

Jun 24, 2021 4:37 PM CDT

Former BigLaw associate is accused of recording more than 2,000 hours on closed pro bono case

A former associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith is facing an ethics complaint alleging that he recorded more than 2,000 annual hours on a closed pro bono case and earned a $12,000 bonus as a result.

Jun 24, 2021 10:01 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: SCOTUS overturns another agency structure; corporate diversity suit allowed

Supreme Court rules FHFA structure is unconstitutional The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency is unconstitutional because its director can only be removed by a U.S. president for cause. The decision will allow President Joe Biden to replace the Trump appointee leading…

Jun 23, 2021 4:21 PM CDT

A new evidence management tool aims to help public defenders process video and audio

Two University of Chicago alums and technologists have developed a technology platform known as JusticeText, an AI-powered evidence management tool primarily geared toward public defenders.

Jun 16, 2021 9:07 AM CDT

Jurors are told former law firm partner created sham creditor to help client shield assets

Did a former Freeborn & Peters partner create a sham creditor to help his client shield assets in a bankruptcy? Or did he engage in a legitimate legal strategy to try to save a struggling business and help out a neighbor?

Jun 14, 2021 2:11 PM CDT

Consumer suit alleges ‘Hint of Lime’ packaging overstates the fruit amount in Tostitos chips

A federal lawsuit filed last month against Frito-Lay North America Inc. has alleged that the maker of the corn chips, potato chips and other snack foods misleads consumers by touting a “Hint of Lime” in Tostitos chips that apparently contain only a “negligible amount of lime.”

Jun 9, 2021 4:16 PM CDT