Illinois

Defendant gets new trial without having to prove bribe-taking judge was biased, 7th Circuit rules

A defendant tried with a co-defendant who paid $10,000 for an acquittal does not have to prove actual bias by the judge to obtain a new trial, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago has ruled.

Feb 10, 2021 3:23 PM CST

Jayne Reardon is changing the practice of law by promoting civility and looking toward the future

Reardon is a great listener who gets people’s support by understanding their agendas and emotions. “She plays the long game, not the short game. She never comes in and jams something down people’s throats,” law professor William Henderson says.

Feb 1, 2021 12:30 AM CST

Suspended family law attorney is accused of additional sex crimes

A suspended Chicago family law attorney faces additional sexual assault and sexual abuse charges involving attacks on two women he knew through his law practice.

Jan 22, 2021 10:41 AM CST

Illinois lawmakers pass sweeping overhaul to criminal justice system

The Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday passed sweeping criminal justice reforms that include the elimination of cash bail and a requirement that police officers in the state wear body cameras.

Jan 14, 2021 3:34 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: First female judge will head Cook County Criminal Court; 2 firms cancel merger

First female judge will preside over Illinois criminal court Judge Erica Reddick was appointed as presiding judge of the Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago on Monday, marking the first time that a woman will fill the role in one of the country’s busiest felony courthouses. Reddick served for nearly…

Jan 5, 2021 4:25 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: New ACLU lawyer gets arrested; top Chicago lawyer resigns after video uproar

New ACLU lawyer is accused of firing gun at ex-wife’s car A newly hired lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah was arrested for allegedly firing a gun at his ex-wife’s car on the evening of Dec. 18. Police said the bullets fired by Aaron Kinikini, 45, hit…

Dec 21, 2020 4:03 PM CST

Texas judicial conduct system and Washington bar association grapple with cyberattacks

Cyberattacks affected the work of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct and a website of the the Washington State Bar Association, according to two recent news stories.

Dec 15, 2020 10:40 AM CST

Judge freezes assets of winning ‘Erin Brockovich’ law firm after suit alleges stolen settlement funds

A federal judge has frozen the assets of the law firm Girardi Keese and founder Tom Girardi after a suit accused Girardi of embezzling settlement money to support his celebrity lifestyle.

Dec 14, 2020 1:51 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Trump seeks to intervene in SCOTUS election case; new LA district attorney touts reforms

Trump seeks to intervene in Supreme Court election case President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to intervene as a plaintiff in Texas’ bid to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the election results in four states. Separately, lawyers for 17 states urged the Supreme Court to accept the suit,…

Dec 10, 2020 4:03 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Top state court rejects election appeal; judge allows lawyer’s bias suit against bank

Wisconsin turns down direct appeal in election lawsuit The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Trump campaign could not challenge election results in that court without first taking the case to a trial judge. The suit seeks to invalidate more than 200,000 votes. (Bloomberg Law, the New York Times)…

Dec 4, 2020 4:23 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Good news for law grad who took bar exam while in labor; Boies Schiller leader leaves

Law grad passes bar exam after taking the test while in labor A graduate of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law has passed the bar exam, even though she went into labor while taking it and finished it the next day after giving birth. Brianna Hill said she slept…

Dec 3, 2020 4:36 PM CST

Lawsuit accuses lawyer and his ‘Real Housewives’ wife of stealing plane crash settlement funds

Lawyer Tom Girardi and his celebrity wife, Erika Jayne of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, are accused in a lawsuit of embezzling settlement money as they struggle to bolster their celebrity image of “obscene wealth.”

Dec 3, 2020 11:42 AM CST

Litigant accused in strangulation death of suburban Chicago lawyer lands on most-wanted list

A lawsuit defendant wanted in the strangulation death of a lawyer in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, Illinois, has been added to the 15 Most Wanted list of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Dec 1, 2020 2:35 PM CST

Judge who forced child into lockup, traded F-words with defendant, loses retention bid

A Cook County, Illinois, judge shown on video forcing a child into a holding cell is only the second judge in the county to lose a retention bid since 1990. Judge Jackie Portman-Brown fell short of the 60% “yes” vote needed to retain her seat.

Nov 25, 2020 9:44 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Judiciary committee will get new top Dem; top Pennsylvania court rejects 5 election suits

Feinstein steps down as top Democrat on Senate Judiciary Committee U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is stepping down as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee after criticism from progressives who said she is too gentle with Republicans. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is seeking the lead Democratic…

Nov 24, 2020 4:34 PM CST