The Bar News

Administrative Director Declares Illinois Associate Judge Appointed in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:24:03 +0000

Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Natalie M. Stec as an associate judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Stec received her undergraduate degree in 1997 from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois and her Juris Doctor in 2000 from New York Law School in New York, New York. Ms. Stec is currently affiliated with Wolfe and Stec, Ltd. in Woodridge, Illinois.

Administrative Director Declares Illinois Associate Judge Appointed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:23:14 +0000

Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced that the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Kathryn J. Cross as associate judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Cross received her undergraduate degree in 2008 from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois and her Juris Doctor in 2011 from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Ms. Cross is currently affiliated with the Boone County Public Defender's Office in Belvidere, Illinois.

Practice Toolbox Series

Marybeth Stanziola — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:04:36 +0000

Face the Future: Use AI to Market and Manage Your Business

Live Webcast

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

12:00 – 1:05 p.m.

1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit (subject to approval)

A lot of press talks about AI taking over the world. Instead of thinking of it in grandiose terms, what can an AI product, like ChatGPT, help you with day-to-day? Learn, with live, on-stage demos, how to use generative AI tools to create and review client questionnaires, business processes, and marketing materials. Register here.

Targeting Success: Build a Plan to Hit Your Financial Goals

Live Webcast

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

12:00 – 1:05 p.m.

1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit (subject to approval)

Strategy often gives way to daily interruptions and the unforeseen. This session walks through developing a thorough strategic plan. Build for success by understanding your vision, values, goals, and key business numbers. Figure out what matters and how that drives growth. Register here.

Recording in Progress

Marybeth Stanziola — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:25:55 +0000

While Illinois is a two-party consent state when it comes to recording conversations, the National Labor Relations Board has held that when employees’ surreptitious recordings qualify as protected activity, federal labor law may preempt state eavesdropping statutes. In his August 2026 Illinois Bar Journal article, "Recording in Progress," Sam Hensel examines whether leadership changes at the Board may threaten this holding, creating uncertainty for employers, unions, and employees. Hensel suggests unions, especially, may wish to exercise caution in relying on employee-made recordings in legal proceedings.

Read, "Recording in Progress," in the August Illinois Bar Journal.

Daniel J. Heywood Elected to ISBA Board of Governors

Marybeth Stanziola — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:06:44 +0000

The ISBA Board of Governors elected Daniel J. Heywood to the vacant seat on the Board. Heywood has been an Assembly member since 2022. He is the former Chair of the State and Local Taxation section council and a current member of SALT. He is a member of the standing committees on Legislation, Assembly Finance, and unauthorized practice of law taskforce.

While attending law school, Daniel was a law clerk with the City of Chicago Law Department in the Collections and Ownership Litigation Division. Daniel also worked as a law clerk at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in the Real Estate Tax Division. Prior to joining Maher, Brannigan & Heywood, P.C., Daniel was an associate attorney at a firm that limited its practice to real estate taxation matters. Mr. Heywood has successfully tried cases before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board securing real estate tax refunds on behalf of his clients. He is now a partner at Maher, Brannigan & Heywood, P.C., where he practices in the areas of real estate taxation and real estate transactions.

Dan Heywood is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association.

Mr. Heywood graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2002 and again in 2003, earning both his B.A. and M.A. degrees, respectively. Daniel received his Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 2008. He was admitted to practice in Illinois, 2008, Northern District of Illinois, 2009, and United States Supreme Court, 2012.

Founded in 1877, the Illinois State Bar Association is the premier legal association in the state. As a voluntary organization of more than 25,000 members, the Association aims to assist Illinois lawyers in the practice of law and to promote improvements in the administration of justice.

Illinois Juvenile Detention Centers Receive Grant for Mural Artwork

Marybeth Stanziola — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:19:02 +0000

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) announced that the Illinois Arts Council, through its FY26 Creative Projects Grant, awarded $12,000 to juvenile detention centers in Illinois. Five counties with juvenile detention centers including Kane, Lake, McLean, Peoria, and Winnebago received funds to contract with local artists in order to create youth-led murals. Over the past year, these juvenile detention centers have utilized grant funds to complete murals within their facilities.

The Illinois Arts Council was created as a state agency in 1965 and serves the people of Illinois through a variety of grants and services. The Illinois Arts Council supports Illinois’ arts sector, advances arts education, and fosters creativity and working artists. The $12,000 in funding reflects the Illinois Arts Council’s mission to build a strong, creative, and connected Illinois through the arts. The announcement of this support underscores the importance of fostering unique, arts-based opportunities for Illinois communities.

“The mural projects gave youth in detention a chance to express what words cannot, opening doors to self-discovery and reflection. This grant funding provided that opportunity in each of these facilities,” said Mark Bronke, Detention Manager within AOIC’s Probation Services Division. The Probation Services Division held several informational webinars for detention center staff and provided relevant information to the counties during the application process.

The AOIC would like to thank the Illinois Arts Council for their commitment to Illinois’ juvenile detention centers.

Note: Mural photos available upon request.

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: James Brunner, Public Information Officer of the Illinois Supreme Court at 217.208.3354 or jbrunner@illinoiscourts.gov.)

IBF Lawyers Care Legacy Reception in Honor of Warren Lupel — August 6, 2026

Celeste Antoinette Niemann — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:13:18 +0000

On August 6, 2026, the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) hosted the Lawyers Care Legacy Reception at Roanoke Restaurant in Chicago, honoring the life and legacy of Warren Lupel.

A true luminary of the legal profession and lifelong advocate for those in need, Warren served on the IBF Board of Directors from 1995–2006, including as President from 2002–2004. His leadership, compassion, and steadfast belief in the ability of attorneys to support colleagues facing hardship helped shape and strengthen the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Warren Lupel Lawyers Care Fund.

Founded in 1951 and renamed in Warren’s honor in 2004, the Fund continues his enduring commitment to helping Illinois lawyers and their families in times of need.

We are eternally grateful for Warren’s leadership, service, and the lasting impact of his legacy.

To make a donation in Warren’s memory, visit the Illinois Bar Foundation website and select the Warren Lupel Lawyers Care Fund when donating.

Proceeds from the Lawyers Care Legacy Reception benefited the Warren Lupel Lawyers Care Fund. Learn more about the Lawyers Care Fund and its impact on the Illinois legal community.

PC: ISBA

Applications for 2027-28 ISBA Rural Practice Fellowship Program Open August 28

Marybeth Stanziola — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:08:43 +0000

Applications open August 28, 2026!

The ISBA’s Rural Practice Initiative Committee created the Rural Practice Fellowship Program in 2020 to increase access to attorneys in rural areas of Illinois. The aim of the Program is to connect rural and small-town attorneys and law firms looking to hire summer law clerks and full-time associates with law students and attorneys interested in practicing law in rural communities in Illinois.

As of 2020, data showed that more than half of Illinois counties have less than 0.7 lawyers in private practice per 1,000 residents. Thirty-five Illinois counties have ten or fewer attorneys total in private practice, and 13 counties have five or fewer attorneys total in private practice.

The ISBA Rural Practice Section offers the Rural Practice Fellowship to address the issue.

The Summer Clerk portion of the Program connects law students with rural practitioners to give them experience working in rural communities before they leave law school. Summer Law Clerk Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend, mentoring, support, and training.

The Associate portion of the Program places attorneys as associates with rural practitioners where they serve both paying and pro bono clients. Associate Fellows receive a $10,000 stipend to be paid $5,000 at the beginning of the fellowship and $5,000 to be paid after the first year of the fellowship, mentoring, support, and training.

Deadline for applications is September 18, 2026.

Learn more about the programs and apply.

Email RPFellows@isba.org with questions.

ISBA’s Solo & Small Firm Conference 2026: From Log Cabin to Legacy: Growing and Sustaining a Solo or Small Firm in Illinois

Marybeth Stanziola — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:41:54 +0000

ISBA’s Solo & Small Firm Conference 2026: From Log Cabin to Legacy: Growing and Sustaining a Solo or Small Firm in Illinois

Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette, 501 Main Street, Peoria

Thursday, September 17, 2026 – Friday, September 18, 2026

Thursday: 9:45 a.m. – 6:10 p.m. (Social Events to follow)

Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. (Complimentary Breakfast serve prior)

Attend live onsite and earn up to 13.0 hours MCLE credit, including up to 7.0* hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit

ISBA’s two-day Solo and Small Firm Conference gives you the opportunity to earn CLE credits while enhancing your knowledge and networking with colleagues! Join us for ISBA’s 2026 Solo & Small Firm Conference, “From Log Cabin to Legacy,” a two‑day, in‑person event designed to bring Illinois solo and small firm attorneys together. Hosted at the Pere Marquette in the historic city of Peoria, this program delivers actionable CLE, real‑world insights, and the tools you need to help you build, grow, and sustain a lasting legal practice. Whether you’re launching your first law firm or focused on strengthening an established law business, you’ll gain the best practice tips and strategies for every stage of your professional journey. Register here.

Justice Sanjay T. Tailor Announces Multiple Judicial Vacancies in Cook County

Marybeth Stanziola — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:57:19 +0000

Supreme Court Justice Sanjay T. Tailor has begun an application process for four judicial vacancies – two at-large vacancies and two subcircuit vacancies – in Cook County.

The at-large vacancies are for the seats of Judge Diana Rosario (vacant as of June 1, 2026) and Judge Shelley Sutker-Dermer (vacant effective December 7, 2026), and the subcircuit vacancies are for the seats of Judge Sybil Thomas (19th Subcircuit, vacant as of January 31, 2026) and Judge Pamela Loza (12th Subcircuit, vacant effective September 18, 2026).

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled on an interim basis by Supreme Court appointment. Justice Tailor will make recommendations to the Supreme Court after applicants for the position undergo a screening and evaluation process.

The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court’s website at www.illinoiscourts.gov and following the instructions in the latest news scroller announcing the Cook County vacancies.

Applications must be filed electronically and the deadline for submission is 5 p.m. on September 10, 2026.

The persons appointed to fill the vacancies will serve until the first Monday in December following the November 2028 election.

To be eligible for consideration for appointment, the applicant must be a lawyer in good standing, licensed to practice law in Illinois, and a resident of the county or subcircuit at the time of appointment.

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: James Brunner, Public Information Officer of the Illinois Supreme Court at 217.208.3354 or jbrunner@illinoiscourts.gov.)

ISBA to Co-Sponsor All Bar Social on August 26

Marybeth Stanziola — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:00:38 +0000

The Illinois State Bar Association will be a Gold Co-Sponsor of the All Bar Social with the Chicago Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Hubbard Inn, 110 W. Hubbard St., Chicago. All lawyers and law students are welcome to attend!

Tickets are $50 and include drinks and appetizers.

ISBA members can receive a discount on tickets. Please email Miriam Griffith for more info on how to receive this discount.

Join 100's of other lawyers, law students, and judges from the Chicago legal community to network and socialize with one another at the same event!

Each association in attendance will have a representative who will be available to explain their respective legal organization’s goals and benefits of membership.

Ticket purchase includes a wristband drink package and appetizers. All members of Chicago's Legal Community are welcome.

Visit the Chicago Bar Association website to view all of the participating associations.

Consensual Release

Marybeth Stanziola — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:43:31 +0000

In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court released its opinion in Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P, for which a sharply divided court concluded that U.S. bankruptcy courts and U.S. district courts exercising bankruptcy jurisdiction lacked the authority to approve a Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan if that plan includes a nonconsensual release of any nondebtor’s claims against another nondebtor. In his August Illinois Bar Journal article, "Consensual Releases," Austin R. Carlson explains why practitioners looking for guidance after Purdue Pharma should should focus on how the ruling may affect negotiating a favorable settlement with a third-party funding source, soliciting releases from the estate’s creditors to maximize creditor buy-in, and crafting a reorganization plan to maximize the odds of confirmation.

Read, "Consensual Release," in the August Illinois Bar Journal.

Illinois Supreme Court Appoints 13 Judges to Circuit Court of Cook County

Marybeth Stanziola — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:12:15 +0000

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the appointment of 13 judges in the Circuit Court of Cook County. These appointments were made out of public necessity to ensure an adequate level of judicial staffing in Cook County.

Each appointee has received recent positive ratings following interviews and evaluations from the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening. They will run unopposed in the November general election.

The appointments are effective today, August 10, 2026, and all will conclude on December 7, 2026, following the November 2026 general election. The appointees are Sam Bae, Julian Sanchez Crozier, Robert “Bob” Groebner, William F. Kelley, Stephanie S. Kelly, Jarrett Knox, Juan Ponce de Leon, Ashonta C. Rice, Ashley Greer Shambley, Ava George Stewart, Jon Stromsta, Luz Maria Toledo and Radiance Ward.

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: James Brunner, Public Information Officer of the Illinois Supreme Court at 217.208.3354 or jbrunner@illinoiscourts.gov.)

Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Judge Michael Cabonargi to Ninth Subcircuit of Cook County

Marybeth Stanziola — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:10:37 +0000

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the appointment of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael Cabonargi to the Ninth Subcircuit of Cook County.

Judge Cabonargi is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Sanjay T. Tailor to the Supreme Court in January 2026. The appointment is effective August 7, 2026, and will conclude on December 4, 2028.

Judge Cabonargi was appointed to the bench as an At-Large Judge in Cook County in June 2025. He previously served as Regional Director of the Great Lakes Region (Region V) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), responsible for Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and 34 indigenous tribal nations. From 2011 to 2022 he served as a commissioner on the Cook County Board of Review, which is tasked with fairly and impartially reviewing the assessments of all property within Cook County. From 2005 to 2011 Judge Cabonargi was a senior attorney and prosecutor in the Division of Enforcement at the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition to prior work as an attorney at Bell, Boyd and Lloyd, LLC, he served as law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge William J. Hibbler in Chicago from 2000 to 2002.

Judge Cabonargi earned his Bachelor of Arts from Miami University of Ohio and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law.

His professional affiliations include the Loyola Academy Bar Association, the District 39 Educational Foundation, and the Milan Committee of Chicago’s Sister Cities Program.

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: James Brunner, Public Information Officer of the Illinois Supreme Court at 217.208.3354 or jbrunner@illinoiscourts.gov.)

Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Hon. Timothy Evans to First District Appellate Court

Marybeth Stanziola — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 20:57:00 +0000

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the appointment of Cook County Circuit Judge Timothy C. Evans to the First District Appellate Court.

Judge Evans is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Terrence J. Lavin on March 31, 2026. The appointment is effective August 17, 2026, and will conclude on December 4, 2028.

Judge Evans has a reputation as a hard worker who spent nearly a quarter century serving the public as Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. That experience leading hundreds of judges means he understands the importance of excellent judicial service and makes him a valuable addition to the appellate court.

“My career has been dedicated to fairness, impartiality, and public service,” Judge Evans said. “I look forward to bringing those values, together with decades of judicial experience and leadership, to the important work of the appellate court.”

Judge Evans has served on the bench since 1992 when he was elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County. He was elected as Chief Judge of the Circuit Court in September 2001, becoming the first African American to serve as Chief Judge. He served in that capacity until 2025.

Judge Evans implemented a number of reforms and initiatives while serving as Chief Judge. He oversaw the opening of the state’s first Restorative Justice Community Courts in the North Lawndale, Avondale, and Englewood neighborhoods of Chicago and the first Restorative Justice Community Court in the suburbs in Sauk Valley. Judge Evans guided the Cook County courts during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resumption of jury trials with public health precautions.

He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned his Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School (now the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) in 1969.

Judge Evans has received numerous honors during his career including the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from the National Center for State Courts in 2009. He was named Person of the Year by Chicago Lawyer magazine in 2017.

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: James Brunner, Public Information Officer of the Illinois Supreme Court at 217.208.3354 or jbrunner@illinoiscourts.gov.)

ISBA Launches Two New Free Member Directories

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:34:49 +0000

The ISBA is excited to announce that our two new member directories are now live!

ISBA Member-to-Member Directory: Whether you are interested in making or receiving referrals from other members or just want to look up a member you recently met at a meeting, the Member-to-Member Directory is your go-to source for finding ISBA members. Only ISBA members can access the directory, and all ISBA members are eligible to have a free profile in it.

Illinois Lawyer Finder: Get found by potential clients looking to hire a lawyer in our revamped public-facing directory. Available to members who can represent private clients (i.e. judges, retired, inactive, and military members are excluded), this public directory has additional client-oriented search options, a contact form for privacy, and is completely free.

Find Out More About the Member Directories

If you haven't done so already, you are asked to log into your settings page on the ISBA website and do the following:

Choose if your profile is visible to the public (if eligible), only visible to other ISBA members, or visible to no one.
If your profile is visible in either directory, further choose if you want to make your contact information visible to the public, only to other ISBA members, or to no one. If you choose to make any of your contact information visible, make sure the information is updated and correct.
Fill in the various profile fields—including your availability to accept new clients or referrals from other members—to create a more informative profile that will place you higher in search results.

If you haven’t yet uploaded a picture to appear on your profile, you can do that from your personal snapshot page on the ISBA website.

CHECK YOUR PROFILE SETTINGS NOW

8th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy: Lincoln and the Rule of Law

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:58:28 +0000

8th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy: Lincoln and the Rule of Law

Live Webcast

Thursday, September 10, 2026

9:00 a.m. – 4:40 p.m.

6.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment credit (subject to approval)

Don’t miss ISBA’s 8th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar as we explore Lincoln’s legal mind and the way it shaped his leadership of the nation. Topics include: Lincoln’s early law practice and the importance of his influential 1838 Lyceum Address; how Lincoln’s speeches and letters reveal his profound respect of the Declaration of Independence; the constitutional challenges that faced Lincoln as president; how Lincoln’s career as an attorney equipped him to navigate the unprecedented legal issues during the Civil War; how Lincoln’s professionalism shaped both his legal career and his approach to national leadership; the pivotal role Chicago played in Lincoln’s life and career; and much more! Register here.

Thomas L. Pullen (1943-1926)

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:19:30 +0000

Thomas L. Pullen, 82, of Gladstone, Illinois, died at 1:40 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab, Stronghurst, Illinois.

Judge Pullen was born in Pecos, Texas on August 29, 1943 to Clarence L. and Verna (Asbury) Pullen. He was raised and educated in Gladstone where his family had lived since 1835. Judge Pullen was a graduate of Union High School, Western Illinois University, and the John Marshall Law School. He served as a captain in the US Army and was awarded a Bronze Star for service in Vietnam.

Pullen was an associate with the Fort & Fort Law Firm in Stronghurst and for eight years was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, assigned to the then Immigration and Naturalization Service. In 1982, he was appointed as an immigration judge in Chicago, and in 1990 was promoted to the position of Assistant Chief Immigration Judge with supervisory responsibility for the ten immigration courts in the northeast United States. Judge Pullen was selected to become Deputy Chief Immigration Judge in 1997, serving in that position until his retirement. Judge Pullen was an adjunct instructor at the National Judicial College, a Fellow of the National Center of State Courts Management Program, and a member of the Illinois, American, and Federal Bar Associations.

After retirement, Judge Pullen returned to Gladstone and worked in his garden. He had a strong interest in preserving vestiges of Native American sites in Henderson County, as well as the county history subsequent to the arrival of non-native settlers. Although he had a successful career and was able to travel widely, he was most content in his community with his books, plants, friends, and family. When needed, he volunteered for local boards and tasks, believing the success of a just society was dependent on everyone's participation.

He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Henderson County Historical and Genealogy Associations, the Henderson County Library Board, the Henderson County Health Board, and the Oak Lane and Oak Wood Retirement Center Board of Directors.

Having been raised in the Gladstone Methodist Church he was disappointed when the United Methodist Church ruled that a person who lived openly as a gay person was incompatible with the teaching of Christ. He could find no teaching by Christ on the subject of homosexuality or same sex marriage, and felt the church led its members astray on this issue. He maintained his belief in Christ, but not in the church.

Judge Pullen was preceded in death by his parents and his life partner of 39 years, Peter Ferenczy.

Family and friends will begin gathering at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at the Oquawka Cemetery, Oquawka, Illinois. Graveside services with military honors will follow at 12:00 p.m. noon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mellinger Foundation, 1025 East Broadway, Monmouth, Illinois 61462 in memory of Judge Pullen. He was one of their first scholarship recipients and wished to help others just as he received. Arrangements have been entrusted to Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Oquawka, Illinois.

Open Roles for Attorneys at DCFS

Marybeth Stanziola — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:14:34 +0000

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is accepting applications for multiple open attorney positions.

Special Assistant to the General Counsel (Chicago, IL)

Title: Public Service Administrator – Special Assistant to the General Counsel

Work Location: 60 E Van Buren, Chicago, Illinois, 60605

Agency: Department of Children and Family Services

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $10,350 - $11,600/month

Closing Date/Time: 08/25/2026

Essential Functions

Serves as Special Assistant to the General Counsel
Serves as Special Assistant Attorney General, providing legal research, analysis, advice, and consultation on major federal litigation involving the Department
Represents the Department in the circuit court of Cook County in mental health court petitions involving youth in care
Devises and identifies legal strategies and advises on associated risks
Serves as the agency liaison to the Child Welfare Litigation Bureau, functioning as the point person for questions, issues, discovery meetings, or other matters
Provides input and assistance to the General Counsel in general law matters
Provides input into various committees involving outside groups, as designated by the General Counsel
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

Requires graduation from an accredited law school and possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois
Requires three years of administrative experience in the practice of law

Senior General Counsel (Chicago, IL)

Title: Public Service Administrator – Senior Regional Counsel

Work Location: 2245 W Ogden Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60612

Agency: Department of Children and Family Services

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $9,488 - $10,900/month

Closing Date/Time: 08/25/2026

Essential Functions

Serves as a Senior Regional Counsel
Provides legal advice and counsel to professional staff in various divisions of the Department
Serves as Department representative at all levels of administrative “fair hearings”
Maintains current working knowledge of new legislation, Department rules and policy, and all relevant law
Provides legal training to Department administrators, supervisors, and staff on various topics including testifying in court
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

Requires possession of a license to practice law in Illinois
Requires three years of experience as an attorney presenting and arguing cases in court and/or administrative hearings
Requires experience as an attorney in cases involving child welfare or juvenile law

Senior Regional Counsel (Peoria, IL)

Title: Public Service Administrator – Senior Regional Counsel

Work Location: 5415 N University St, Peoria, Illinois, 61614

Agency: Department of Children and Family Services

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $9,488 - $10,900/month

Closing Date/Time: 08/25/2026

Essential Functions

Serves as Senior Regional Counsel
Interviews Department witnesses
Evaluates cases involving clients where the Department is involved in court or seeking expunction or indication
Serves as legal advisor to regional field staff
Plans, directs, and conducts technical legal screening and provides case consultation to caseworkers and supervisors to help prepare cases for termination of parental rights (TPR), to determine when cases are trial ready for TPR
Serves as Department liaison to judiciary, State’s Attorney’s Offices, and various court personnel in numerous counties in the region
Maintains current working knowledge of new legislation, Department rules and policy, and all relevant law
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois
Requires three years of experience in the practice of law

Legislative & Policy Counsel (Springfield, IL)

Title: Public Service Administrator – Legislative & Policy Counsel

Work Location: 4 W Old State Capitol Plz, Springfield, Illinois, 62701

Agency: Department of Children and Family Services

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $10,350 - $11,600/month

Closing Date/Time: 08/25/2026

Essential Functions

Serves as Legislative and Policy Counsel for the Department of Children and Family Services
Serves as liaison between the Office of Child and Family Policy and Legislative Affairs to ensure continuity and alignment in the development and implementation of Rules and Procedures necessary to carry out newly enacted legislation
Serves as Department liaison to members of the General Assembly, Congress, and their staff Represents and communicates the Department’s interests on legislative matters and engages with elected officials and staff regarding legislation, proposed statutory changes, and legislative agendas
Establishes and maintains systems and procedures to monitor and track various legislative proposals
Serves as a subject matter expert for the Department on newly enacted legislation, revisions to existing statutes, agency rules and procedures, and all other relevant law
Provides testimony before the General Assembly and Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) to present the Department’s viewpoint and legal opinion regarding current and proposed rules and legislation and ramifications on the Department, foster and adoptive parents, children, and families
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

Requires graduation from an accredited law school and possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois
Requires three years of administrative experience in the practice of law

Administrative Director Declares Illinois Associate Judge Appointed in the First Judicial Circuit

Marybeth Stanziola — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:13:43 +0000

Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the First Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Joshua A. Stratemeyer as associate judge of the First Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Stratemeyer received his undergraduate degree in 2001 from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky and his Juris Doctor in 2006 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Mr. Stratemeyer is currently affiliated with the Massac County State’s Attorney’s Office in Metropolis, Illinois.