The Bar News

Illinois Supreme Court Amends Rule to Increase Domestic Violence Training for Guardians ad Litem

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:47:39 +0000

Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. and the Illinois Supreme Court announced today amendments to Rule 906 which will strengthen training requirements on domestic violence issues for Guardians ad Litem (GALs) appointed in domestic relations and child custody cases.

“During my tenure as Chair, the Committee has worked to address a number of issues relating to domestic violence and the Courts. One recurring issue has been the reliance of family and order of protection court judges on Guardians ad Litem when making extremely important decisions impacting families and the need for GALs to give judges the best information possible to assist in making these determinations,” said Seventeenth Circuit Associate Judge Jennifer J. Clifford, Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Domestic Violence. “Judges rely heavily on GAL recommendations, therefore, training on domestic violence is critical for GALs as they make recommendations that directly and indirectly affect child safety, parenting time, custody arrangements, and family stability.”

The amendment to Rule 906 is effective July 1, 2027, and can be found here.

GALs are tasked with representing and advocating for the best interests of the child, highlighting the need for specialized training to ensure that GALs possess the skills and understanding necessary to identify domestic violence, assess safety and risks, and make informed recommendations to the judiciary when orders of protection exist and domestic violence is alleged.

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 906, titled “Attorney Qualifications and Education in Child Custody, Allocation of Parental Responsibilities, Visitation, and Parenting Time Matters,” describes the Court’s process of establishing qualifications for child custody cases.

The amendment to Rule 906 now adds “Prior to appointment the attorney shall have four (4) hours in the two years prior to the date the attorney qualifies for appointment in approved continuing legal education courses in the following area: intimate partner domestic abuse. Training topics may include family violence, coercive control, the impact to children who witness intimate partner domestic abuse, the impact of violence on survivors, post-separation intimate partner abuse, the use of collateral resources to address risk management and safety, parenting plans, and resources for the child and family.”

GALs seeking CLEs on domestic violence can find courses provided by the Illinois Judicial College. New courses are forthcoming and free of charge.

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

Disability Law: What You Need to Know About the ADA and IHRA

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:40:02 +0000

Disability Law: What You Need to Know About the ADA and IHRA

Live Webcast

Thursday, November 19, 2026

12:00 – 1:05 p.m.

1.0 hour MCLE credit

Don’t miss this comprehensive overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the disability protections under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA). Learn how to navigate various causes of action, file complaints effectively under each statute, and strategically evaluate venue options for adjudication, while also examining the similarities and differences between bringing claims under federal versus state law. A look at pivotal case law from the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Illinois Appellate Courts, and the Supreme Court of Illinois is also included, as well as a discussion on the emerging legal trends and issues impacting disability protections at both levels. Register here.

How to Win a New Trial on Damages Only

Marybeth Stanziola — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:14:46 +0000

The good news is that you won your personal injury trial. The bad news is that the verdict was inadequate and did not compensate your client for all the damages suffered. In his October Illinois Bar Journal article, “How to Win a New Trial on Damages Only,” R. Courtney Hughes discusses the formula for winning a new trial on damages only after an inadequate verdict, beginning with filing a posttrial motion with the trial court and arguing that the damages verdict was against the manifest weight of the evidence and/or legally inconsistent.

Read, "How to Win a New Trial on Damages Only," in the October Illinois Bar Journal.

Negotiation Ethics: Winning Without Selling Your Soul

Marybeth Stanziola — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:51:27 +0000

Negotiation Ethics: Winning Without Selling Your Soul

Live Webcast

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

1:30 – 3:35 p.m.

2.0 hours MCLE credit, including 2.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval)

A powerful negotiation reputation is one of your most valuable professional assets—and once damaged, it can be nearly impossible to restore. This engaging, interactive CLE program challenges attorneys to think more strategically about how their choices at the bargaining table shape both outcomes and long‑term credibility. Through a series of ethically complex negotiation scenarios, our speaker, Martin Latz, plays devil’s advocate to provoke deeper analysis, guide discussion, and connect each dilemma to core strategic principles of negotiation. Real-world scenarios are examined on three important levels: whether the conduct was moral, whether it crossed the ethical line under the Rules of Professional Conduct or violated another legal restriction such as fraud; and whether the tactic was effective in achieving the negotiator’s goals. The program also incorporates a variety of video clips to demonstrate negotiation strategies in action, giving attendees a chance to analyze technique, evaluate decision‑making, and identify the subtle moves that build (or erode) trust. Attorneys with all levels of practice experience who attend this online seminar will learn how to:

Avoid answering certain questions ethically and share strategic information in high‑stakes negotiations;
Identify information that must be disclosed under ethical and legal rules;
Recognize where lying or bluffing becomes unlawful;
Distinguish puffery from prohibited misrepresentation;
Use leverage ethically and effectively; and
Apply Latz’s Eight Golden Rules of Negotiation Ethics to real practice.

Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Katharine Hatch as Judge in Nineteenth Judicial Circuit

Marybeth Stanziola — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:14:06 +0000

Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Katharine Hatch as a Circuit Judge in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Third Subcircuit.

Ms. Hatch is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Charles W. Smith, effective Aug. 31, 2026. The appointment is effective November 9, 2026, and will conclude on December 4, 2028.

Ms. Hatch has over 20 years of legal experience. She most recently practiced as a family law and criminal defense attorney as owner of the Law Offices of Katharine S. Hatch, Ltd., after previously working at Steiner Howeth Pasquesi & Hatch, Ltd. Prior to this, she served for 15 years as an Assistant Public Defender in Lake County. In 2023, Ms. Hatch was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Illinois Committee on Character and Fitness for the 2nd District.

Ms. Hatch earned her bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and her Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Her professional affiliations include Lake County Bar Association, where she previously served as President, and she currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Village of Lake Bluff. The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit covers the entirety of Lake County.

(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 Amends Rules for Juvenile Court Appeals

Marybeth Stanziola — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:31:37 +0000

Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. and the Illinois Supreme Court announced today amendments to Rules 307 and 660 which will allow for interlocutory appeal on transfer orders from juvenile court to adult court. This change provides minors with the opportunity to request expedited appellate review of a juvenile court’s transfer order. The proposal was championed by former Cook County Circuit Court Judge Stuart Katz, who passed away earlier this year.

“Judge Stuart Katz was a pioneer in reforming the juvenile justice system in Illinois,” said 15th Circuit Court Judge John B. Roe, IV, who serves as Chair of the Illinois Supreme Committee on Juvenile Courts, which proposed the amendments. “This is yet another lasting imprint representing his goal of improving the efficiency of the juvenile court process.”

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 307, titled “Interlocutory Appeals as of Right”, describes the situations in which an appeal may be taken to the Appellate Court from an interlocutory order of a circuit court. The amendment to Rule 307 now adds “granting or denying a petition under 705 ILCS 405/5-805, wherein the state seeks to have a minor’s petition for adjudication dismissed and the minor tried under the criminal laws of the state of Illinois, but the procedure for appeal shall be as provided in Supreme Court Rule 660A, and the procedure for identifying minors shall be as provided in Supreme Court Rule 660(c).”

Supreme Court Rule 660, titled “Appeals in Cases Arising Under the Juvenile Court Act”, provides that appeals from determinations in delinquency proceedings are governed by the rules applicable to appeals in criminal cases, and all other appeals under the Act are governed by the rules governing appeals in civil cases.

The amendments to Rules 307 and 660 are effective immediately and can be found here.

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

After Seven-Year Fight, Simmons Hanly Conroy Secures $5M Verdict Against Honda and Yamaha

Marybeth Stanziola — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:16:33 +0000

Alton, Ill. — After seven years of litigation, Simmons Hanly Conroy has secured a $5 million jury verdict against Honda and Yamaha companies on behalf of a Georgia man diagnosed with an exceptionally rare form of malignant mesothelioma following asbestos exposure from motorcycle brake work.

The verdict was returned Oct. 5, 2026, in Donald G. Lassiter v. Akebono Brake Corporation, et al., in the State Court of DeKalb County, Georgia, before Judge Alvin T. Wong. The jury found in Donald Gregory “Greg” Lassiter’s favor and placed 100% of the liability on the Honda and Yamaha defendants.

Lassiter was diagnosed in August 2019 at age 58 with peritoneal mesothelioma. As a teenager, he was an avid motocross racer who maintained and repaired motorcycles from several manufacturers, including Honda and Yamaha, regularly changing brakes from approximately 1973 through 1984.

The case presented unusual scientific and legal challenges. Lassiter’s exposure involved chrysotile asbestos from motorcycle brakes and a non-occupational, hobbyist exposure pattern different from the industrial exposures more commonly seen in asbestos litigation. Establishing causation against friction-product defendants under those circumstances required attorneys to assemble experts capable of explaining Lassiter’s exposure and the medical science to the jury.

To reconstruct Lassiter’s exposure, the Simmons Hanly Conroy team located and purchased the same model Yamaha motorcycle on which he had worked and obtained genuine Yamaha and Honda brake components. The brakes were tested and used in work-practice studies that became important evidence in the case. The litigation also involved extensive corporate discovery, including depositions of Yamaha representatives in Japan, numerous expert challenges, and opposition to nearly a dozen summary judgment and Daubert motions.

Lassiter’s history as a motocross racer also became a poignant part of his testimony. At trial, he brought a trophy he earned at age 15 after being knocked off the track early in the 1976 Georgia State High School Motocross Championship and battling back to finish eighth. Lassiter testified that the experience taught him to “always be tough,” a lesson he carried from racing into his fight with cancer.

“Greg spent his teenage years racing and working on motorcycles, never knowing the brakes he handled could expose him to asbestos. More than four decades later, he faced an extraordinarily rare cancer and a seven-year legal battle,” said Laurence V. Nassif, managing partner of Simmons Hanly Conroy. “His resilience matched the persistence of our team to reconstruct decades-old exposures, develop the science, and uncover corporate conduct dating back decades.”

Multiple judges oversaw the case, and at trial the court required the team to present the complex scientific and historical evidence on a compressed schedule. The result came in a demanding jurisdiction for asbestos plaintiffs. The jury ultimately returned a unanimous verdict for Lassiter.

“Taking on difficult products liability cases in challenging jurisdictions requires the right team, resources, and experience,” Nassif said. “Our collaborative approach allows us to bring together lawyers, scientific experts, investigators, and litigation professionals from across the firm to build complex cases and prepare them for trial anywhere in the country.”

The case was developed by Partner Melissa Crowe Schopfer and her asbestos trial team. The trial was led by Partners Daniel Blouin and Gary DiMuzio. Sokolove Law, Zinns Law, and Buck Law Firm also assisted the Simmons Hanly Conroy team.

Simmons Hanly Conroy has secured more than $12 billion on behalf of clients nationwide in litigation involving asbestos exposure, environmental contamination, dangerous pharmaceuticals, corporate negligence, and other serious injuries.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results depend on the specific facts and circumstances of each case.

About Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP

Simmons Hanly Conroy is one of the nation’s largest mass tort law firms, dedicated to helping victims of mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancers. Other primary areas of litigation include prescription opioids, sexual abuse, pharmaceutical, consumer protection, environmental, and personal injury. The firm's attorneys have been appointed to leadership in numerous national multidistrict litigations, including prescription opioids, Vioxx, Yaz, Toyota unintended acceleration, BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, DePuy Pinnacle, Uber Rideshare sexual assault, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Norfolk Southern East Palestine train derailment, social media adolescent addiction, hair relaxer products injury, and the Volkswagen emission scandal. The firm also represents small and mid-size corporations, inventors and entrepreneurs in matters involving business litigation. Firm attorneys’ passion for improving the lives of asbestos victims and their families extends to the firm’s contributions to mesothelioma cancer research and ongoing support through initiatives including the firm’s annual Miles for Meso 5K race and fun run/walk. Firm offices are located in Alton, Illinois; Boston; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; San Francisco; and St. Louis. Read more at www.simmonsfirm.com.

Justice Elizabeth Rochford Announces Notice of Vacancy for Resident Circuit Judge in Kendall County

Marybeth Stanziola — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:13:19 +0000

Justice Elizabeth Rochford of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Resident Circuit Judge vacancy in Kendall County in the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit. The vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Robert P. Pilmer on November 30, 2026.

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to full Court approval.

Notice of the vacancy will be posted at the Kendall County Courthouse. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court’s website at: illinoiscourts.gov and following the instruction in the latest news scroller announcing the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit vacancy. Please submit application and supporting documents to Stacie Ryan at sryan@illinoiscourts.gov.

Deadline for submission of an application is October 30, 2026, at 4 p.m.

The person selected to fill the vacancy will serve until the first Monday in December following the November 2028 general election.

To be eligible for consideration for appointment, the applicant must be a lawyer licensed to practice law in Illinois and a resident of Kendall County.

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

Member Appreciation Reception Honoring the 2026 Class of Distinguished Counselors

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:57:55 +0000

Join us in Lombard on November 12 as we honor the 2026 class of Distinguished Counselors at our Fall Member Appreciation Reception!

Each year, the Illinois State Bar Association honors a new class of Distinguished Counselors—members who have been licensed attorneys for 50 years. The 2026 class of Distinguished Counselors comprises 301 attorneys and judges. Unless otherwise stated, all places of residence are in Illinois.

The 2026 class of Distinguished Counselors honorees are as follows:

Christopher Abbinante, Barrington
Gary Adair, Chicago
Robert Aicher, Lake Leelanau, Michigan
David Alfassa, Northbrook
James Alfini, Northfield
Hon. J. Jeffrey Allen, Shorewood
R. Alvarez, Petersburg
Linda Amdur, Chicago
Terry Anderson, Rockford
Benton Armstrong, Edwardsville
Gary Ashman, Skokie
Myron Auerbach, Buffalo Grove
John Balestri, La Salle
Jack Beam, Chicago
William Beatty, Edwardsville
Ronald Belmonte, Chicago
Richard Bernardoni, Marshall
Hon. David Bernthal, Champaign
David Bloom, Bartlett
Marc Blumenthal, Lincolnshire
Dale Bode, Belleville
Michael Brandt, Peoria
Jeffrey Brickman, Chicago
Mark Bronson, Saint Louis, Missouri
Charles Brown, DeKalb
Kenneth Brown, Highland Park
William Buenger, Chicago
Norman Burdick, Peoria
Patrick Burke, Olney
Mary Ellen Cagney, Chicago
Mary Cahill, Naperville
Kristina Chapekis, Chicago
Terry Chapman, Chicago
Robert Chemers, Naperville
David Clark, Monmouth
John Clark, Olney
Robert Clifford, Chicago
Ernest Codilis, Burr Ridge
Hon. Neil Cohen, Chicago
Ted Collins, Lewistown
Don Collins, Belleville
Lee Ann Conti, Glen Ellyn
Kevin Conway, Chicago
Linda Crohn, Evanston
Russell Custer, Oak Brook
Richard Dale, Bluffton, South Carolina
Nickolas Dallas, Skokie
Steven Dallas, Chicago
Larry Davis, Northbrook
Richard Day, Saint Elmo
Charles DeVriendt, Joliet
Marcia Doane, Chicago
Carole Doris, Downers Grove
Daniel Doyle, Joliet
Fred Dry, Skokie
John Duggan, North Aurora
David Dunn, Downs
Donald Eddy, Chicago
Daniel Edelman, Chicago
Patricia Eggleston, Chicago
H. Ellis, Huntley
John English, Evanston
Ira Epstein, Thiensville, Wisconsin
John Erb, Traverse City, Michigan
Hon. Clark Erickson, Kankakee
John Etzkorn, Chicago
Otto Faulbaum, Millstadt
Irving Federman, Lincolnwood
Richard Flood, Crystal Lake
Gregory Friedman, Tavernier, Florida
Hon. Steven Fruth, Oak Park
Chester Fuller, Peoria Heights
Caryl Gabe, Hoffman Estates
William Gallagher, Caseyville
James Gallen, Saint Louis, Missouri
James Garlanger, Orland Park
Daniel Gaumer, Decatur
John Gazzoli, St Louis, Missouri
Richard Gerber, Highland Park
Irving Geslewitz, Glenview
Paul Godlewski, Rockford
Francis Golden, Chicago
Capper Grant, Villa Park
Philip Greenblatt, Northbrook
Hon. John Griffin, Palos Hills
Constance Groh, Lansing, Michigan
Richard Grossman, Chicago
J. Grosso, Bloomington
Hon. David Grounds, Alton
Michael Haber, Highland Park
Eldon Ham, Chicago
Kenneth Hand, St. Louis, Missouri
Michael Hansen, Joliet
Michael Hanson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hon. Russell Hartigan, Western Springs
Charles Haskins, Chicago
Mark Hassakis, Chicago
Eric Hasselberg, Peoria
Thomas Hennessy, O Fallon
Kenneth Henry, Chicago
Frederick Hess, Gold Canyon, Arizona
John Hiskes, Tinley Park
Russell Holesinger, Morrison
Stephen Holland, Bushnell
Cary Horvath, Evergreen Park
Timothy Howard, Dunlap
Thaddeus Hubert, New Brunswick, New Jersey
James Huls, Crystal Lake
Robert Huntington, Oak Brook
Joel Hurwitz, Chicago
Lawrence Hyman, Chicago
Carl Jefferson, Chicago
Robin Jesk, Oak Forest
Michael Jones, Centralia
Darrell Jordan, Aurora
Terrence Jordan, Riverside
James Kane, Peoria
Ronald Kaplan, Northbrook
Robert Kealy, Glenview
K. Keller, Effingham
Terrence Kennedy, Chicago
Charles Knell, Peoria
P. Knowles, Kenilworth
Bradley Koch, Rockford
Lisa Kohn, Chicago
David Koivun, Barrington
Stephen Komie, Chicago
Kathryn Korn, Chicago
Daniel Kramer, Yorkville
Phillip Kramer, St. Louis, Missouri
Robert Kreisman, Chicago
Jerry Latherow, Chicago
Richard Laukitis, Chillicothe
James Leahy, Elgin
Marvin Leavitt, Chicago
Phillip Lenzini, Peoria
Steven Levin, Chicago
Louis Levinson, Chicago
David Levy, Chicago
Robert Lewinthal, Northbrook
Charles Lewis, Hinsdale
Thomas Lichten, Chicago
Theodore Liebovich, Rockford
Craig Linn, Waukegan
Marcia Lipkin, Park Ridge
Joseph Locallo, Northbrook
Robert Loeb, Chicago
John Long, O'Fallon
Mark Luscombe, Chicago
Herman Marino, Chicago
Robert Markoff, Chicago
Kathryn Marshall, Fitchburg, Wisconsin
David Martin, Chicago
Robert Masini, Libertyville
Raymond Massey, St. Louis, Missouri
Patrick McAndrews, McHenry
James McCann, West Palm Beach, Florida
Edward McGinnis, Glen Ellyn
Samuel McHard, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Thomas McNulty, Chicago
Hon. John Mehlick, Springfield
Richard Metzger, Arlington, Virginia
Stanley Meyer, Alton
Stephen Mikus, Lake Forest
Lee Miller, Chicago
Robert Montgomery, Chicago
John Moran, Lake Barrington
James Mulvaney, Danville
F. Murnighan, Chicago
John Murphey, Evergreen Park
Thomas Murray, Chicago
Lonn Myers, Glenview
Brien Nagle, Naperville
Robert Nash, Rochester, Minnesota
Joseph Neely, Metropolis
John Nelson, Loves Park
William Nissen, Chicago
Alan Novick, Normal
Timothy Okal, Elmwood Park
William Page, Oswego
Sam Panger, Winfield
John Passarelli, Huntersville, North Carolina
Jeffrey Pattee, Evanston
Marilyn Pearson, Melrose Park
Robert Pehlke, Naperville
Frank Pellegrini, Oak Park
Raymond Polach, Schaumburg
Michael Polachek, Barrington
Joseph Porto, Schererville, Indiana
Alan Post, Chatham
John Power, Oak Brook
John Purtill, Trout Valley
Gayl Pyatt, Carbondale
Michael Radtke, Burr Ridge
Bruce Radzin, Chicago
Michael Ralph, Vernon Hills
Randall Rapp, Harvard
Edward Reda, Chicago
John Redfield, Chicago
Robert Reidy, Chicago
Bruce Reppert, Belleville
Shari Rhode, Carbondale
James Rhodes, Arlington Heights
Stephen Rice, Belleville
Ellen Rindal, Roselle
Roger Ritzman, Wheaton
Michaelangelo Rocco, Buffalo, New York
Mark Rodriguez, Glen Ellyn
Steven Rogers, Arlington Hts
Michael Rooney, St. Charles
Michael Ross, Deerfield
Larry Rothman, Anaheim, California
John Rotunno, Chicago
Jack Rovner, Chicago
Brian Rubin, Buffalo Grove
Anthony Rusnak, Evanston
Edward Rust, Bloomington
John Ryan, Carbondale
Robert Sabin, Deerfield
Jeffrey Saltz, Chicago
Alan Samlan, Chicago
Howard Samson, Skokie
Philip Sandler, Chicago
Terry Saunders, Chicago
Thomas Sbertoli, Lake Bluff
Michael Scalzo, Wheaton
Edmund Scanlan, Chicago
Hon. Thomas Schanzle-Haskins, Springfield
David Schechtman, Schaumburg
James Schrempf, Alton
Jeffrey Schulze, Crystal Lake
Joseph Schuman, Chicago
Gary Schwartz, Carmel, California
Bruce Self, Aurora
Randall Server, Chicago
Kenneth Shepro, Wayne
Larry Siegel, Evanston
John Simpson, Springfield
Steven Skelton, Bloomington
Hon. David Slater, Pana
Hon. Timothy Slavin, Morrison
Richard Slocum, Aurora
Todd Smith, Chicago
Gary Smith, Springfield
Mark Smith, Evanston
S. Smith, Paris
William Smith, Palos Park
Donna Socol, Chicago
Mark Spadoro, Chicago
Nancy Spain, Chicago
Keith Spielfogel, Chicago
Russell Standlee, Bonita Springs, Florida
Frederick Stavins, Champaign
Michael Sterling, Phoenix, Arizona
Douglas Stiles, Waukegan
James Stoddard, Sycamore
Jim Stortzum, Orland Park
Lamont Strong, Lake Balboa, California
Guice Strong, Murphysboro
Stephen Studer, Mishawaka, Indiana
David Sugar, Chicago
Peter Sweders, Naperville
Thomas Sweeney, Urbana
Edward Szewczyk, East Alton
Harvey Teichman, Hoffman Estates
Eric Terlizzi, Salem
Stephen Tillery, Saint Louis, Missouri
Gerald Timmerwilke, Quincy
Hon. Henry Tonigan, North Barrington
Gary Topol, Elgin
Timothy Touhy, Chicago
Richard Trainor, Chicago
Dennis Triggs, Morton
Jay Trost, Rockford
Eileen Trost, Wheaton
Anthony Trotto, Wood Dale
James Tueth, Decatur
Hon. Susan Tungate, Watseka
Cleveland Tyson, Bannockburn
Keith Vanden Dooren, Tallahassee, Florida
Hon. E. Kyle Vantrease, Estero, Florida
David Waggoner, Crystal Lake
James Wagner, Fox River Grove
Bruce Wall, Washington, District of Columbia
Michael Ward, Evanston
John Washburn, Chicago
Stanley Wasser, Springfield
Gary Weintraub, Northfield
Craig Westfall, Bloomingdale
John Wienold, Aurora
James Wilber, Fish Creek, Wisconsin
Joseph Winne, Washington
Richard Witry, Skokie
Michael Wlodek, Elgin
Edmund Wohlmuth, Arlington Heights
Marc Wolfe, Woodridge
Paul Wolfman, Chicago
Darrell Woolums, Decatur
James Ziegler, Chicago
Robert Zimmerman, River Forest
Richard Zuckerman, Peoria

Celebrate this year’s class of Distinguished Counselors, connect with your ISBA friends and colleagues, and enjoy an evening of networking at The Westin Chicago Lombard. The reception will feature hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine.

For questions, please reach out to Kim Weaver.

Participate in the ISBA's Membership Survey

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:46:02 +0000

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) is dedicated to supporting Illinois attorneys and strengthening the legal profession at every career stage. As we work to better understand the needs, priorities, and experiences of legal professionals across Illinois, we are conducting research to inform how we serve the profession going forward.

To support this work, we have engaged McKinley Advisors, an association strategy consulting firm, to conduct a confidential survey on our behalf. Your input is critical to helping the ISBA refine its offerings, identify unmet needs, and ensure the association remains a relevant and valuable home for legal professionals like you. We hope you will take a few moments to share your candid thoughts.

Complete the Survey

The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete, and five participants will be selected at random to each receive one of five $150 Visa gift cards. Your data will only be used for research purposes and analyzed by ISBA’s survey partner, McKinley Advisors, ensuring the confidentiality of responses. If you need assistance with the survey, please email cvanderpoel@mckinley-advisors.com.

If you have any questions about this research effort, please contact us at surveys@isba.org. Thank you in advance for your time and for helping shape the future direction of ISBA and the legal profession in Illinois.

SIU Simmons Law School, Illinois Supreme Court Partner in Creating Housing Justice Clinic

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:07:29 +0000

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A new collaboration between Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School and the Illinois Supreme Court will expand access to legal representation for people facing housing-related issues while giving law students valuable hands-on experience.

Through the recently approved Housing Justice Clinic initiative, students will learn to handle cases involving matters such as evictions and foreclosures. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys, they will provide critical legal services to low-income residents in Southern Illinois who might otherwise be unable to obtain legal representation.

The Illinois Supreme Court’s initiative creates clinics at SIU, the University of Illinois College of Law and Northern Illinois University College of Law.

“I could not be more inspired by this opportunity or excited about its impact on our law school and the region,” Hannah Brenner Johnson, Simmons Law School dean, said. “It will provide meaningful opportunities for our students to gain critical skills that will serve them well as they enter the legal profession. At the same time, it will allow us to help those in our community who may not otherwise have access to an attorney to assist with their housing-related legal needs.”

Brenner Johnson anticipates SIU’s clinic will be operational for the fall 2027 semester.

Unique Program

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. announced the Housing Justice Clinic initiative on Oct. 8. When he did, he noted the need for such clinics and the dearth of attorneys with this focus in areas of the state.

“Today, throughout Illinois, people enter our courthouses with serious problems. They may be about to lose their home. Families may be in trouble. Livelihoods may be at stake,” he said. “Despite having a valid claim or defense, they may have no idea how to assert it. We sometimes talk about access to justice as though opening the courthouse doors solves the problem. It doesn’t. A person can walk through those doors and still have no idea what to do next. That is where lawyers come in.”

Neville added there are not enough lawyers to assist people faced with housing issues — a situation the clinics are meant to rectify.

“The need is there, but we do not have enough lawyers to meet it,” he said. “In much of Illinois, the problem is finding a lawyer at all. Even where lawyers are nearby, legal representation remains out of reach for many residents. Imagine what these clinics will mean for people who otherwise might have nowhere to turn. A home, after all, is where a family gathers, where children sleep, where daily life unfolds.”

The Illinois Supreme Court has secured funding for each of the clinics, each of which will provide a clinical professor, staff attorney, law student intern and general operating expenses. There will be opportunities for collaboration among each of the schools — such as training pro bono attorneys and identifying areas for policy reform — but each clinic will operate independently.

Brenner Johnson said she is unaware of a similar collaborative training model like this in the country.

“The collaboration among our three schools is one of the most unique features of this project,” she said. “We represent three of the four public law schools in Illinois, and we are all located in legal deserts where individuals have a difficult time accessing legal services.”

The initiative will also afford meaningful opportunities to collaborate with legal services providers like Land of Lincoln and Prairie State Legal Services in each of the school’s local communities, Brenner Johnson said.

Important Addition

The new clinic “will add a vibrant component to our law school curriculum at Simmons Law School and continue to build our clinical program,” Brenner Johnson said. The clinic will also “help ensure that people in our community do not appear in court or try to address their legal housing issues without representation.”

Brenner Johnson said that access to justice is a “foundational principal” of the legal profession.

“Lawyers who provide pro bono service play a pivotal role in realizing this principle,” she said. “The three housing justice clinics will, as part of their mission, train attorneys to provide free legal assistance in their communities. We will also work to instill in our students a commitment to pro bono service that they will embody throughout their careers.”

Real Estate Law Update 2026

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:03:32 +0000

Real Estate Law Update 2026

ISBA Regional Office, 20 S. Clark St., Suite 820, Chicago

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

8:55 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

6.0 hours MCLE credit

Join us for a full-day seminar examining the critical legal and legislative updates reshaping real estate. Designed for new attorneys, seasoned practitioners, and non-real estate professionals alike, this session delivers the best practices you need to stay competitive. Our expert speakers offer practical insights into handling renewable energy leases, data centers, and mechanic's liens, as well as how to effortlessly navigate real estate in probate, weigh the pros and cons of using AI in legal practice, and master essential chancery remedies. Register here.

It Can End With PAIP

Marybeth Stanziola — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:38:57 +0000

In her October Illinois Bar Journal article, “It Can End With PAIP,” Brandy N. Arvantis details an underutilized court remedy outlined in the Domestic Violence Act requiring that a respondent in an order of protection case attend counseling or a program designed for domestic violence abusers. Known as the Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP), PAIP’s protocols are outlined by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Read, "It Can End With PAIP," in the October Illinois Bar Journal.

Simmons Hanly Conroy Named a Law360 Illinois Regional Powerhouse

Marybeth Stanziola — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 20:56:51 +0000

ALTON, Ill. — Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs’ law firms, has been named a 2026 Illinois Regional Powerhouse by Law360. The legal business publication annually recognizes a select group of law firms for their impact on their state’s legal market and work on significant matters with broader regional and national implications.

Founded in Alton, Illinois, in 1999 as a seven-person asbestos litigation firm, Simmons Hanly Conroy has grown into one of the nation’s largest mass tort and complex litigation law firms, with more than 300 employees, including over 100 attorneys across seven offices. The firm’s largest concentration of attorneys remains in Alton, where more than 50 lawyers help direct high-stakes litigation across the country while continuing to secure significant results in Illinois courts.

“Being named a Law360 Illinois Regional Powerhouse is especially meaningful because Illinois is where Simmons Hanly Conroy began, and it remains at the heart of who we are as a firm,” said Managing Partner Laurence V. Nassif. “This recognition also reflects the extraordinary work of our entire team across the nation. Our lawyers, investigators, paralegals, researchers, and professionals work together every day to stand up for people and communities facing some of the most powerful interests in the country.”

Simmons Hanly Conroy attorneys serve in leadership roles in major multidistrict and mass tort litigation involving prescription opioids, environmental contamination, pharmaceuticals, consumer protection, sexual abuse, and other mass injury matters. At the core of the firm’s Illinois practice is its nationally recognized asbestos and toxic exposure litigation group. The Illinois team brings together trial lawyers, exposure-investigation attorneys, research and writing lawyers, appellate support, expert teams, and paralegals to prepare complex cases for trial. From its Alton office, the firm has prosecuted asbestos cases in Illinois and across the country, while also serving as a hub for national mass tort and multidistrict litigation.

In 2026, Simmons Hanly Conroy reached a significant milestone in the firm's continued advocacy for individuals and families, surpassing $12 billion secured on behalf of clients nationwide. For more than 27 years, the firm’s work has helped shape outcomes in cases involving mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, prescription opioids, toxic contamination, consumer fraud, dangerous pharmaceuticals and medical devices, corporate negligence, and personal injury.

About Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP

Open Role for Attorneys at DCFS

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:24:44 +0000

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

Cook County Regional Counsel (Chicago, IL) (2 Vacancies)

Title: Technical Advisor II – Cook County Regional Counsel

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

Agency: Department of Children and Family Services

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $6,820/month (Step 1b); Full Range: $6,820 - $9,875

Closing Date/Time: 10/29/2026

Essential Functions

Serves as Cook County Regional Counsel
As directed, provides input into or conducts screenings to determine whether matters are legally sufficient to present to the court
Provides input into the planning and development of training for staff on legal issues
As directed, makes periodic visits to assigned area office(s) to provide on-site legal consultation to workers
Prepares memoranda on legal issues
Maintains current working knowledge of relevant federal and state statutory and case law, state and federal regulations, and Department policy and procedures
Maintains records of activities and actions taken on behalf of the Department and reports to supervisor regarding same
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

Requires graduation from a recognized law school
Requires possession of a valid license to practice law in Illinois

Trial Strategies and Criminal Law Update

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:35:11 +0000

Trial Strategies and Criminal Law Update

Friday, November 6, 2026

ISBA Regional Office, 20 S. Clark Street, Suite 820, Chicago

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

5.0 hours MCLE credit

Join us in Chicago for this full-day seminar that gives you the trial strategies and criminal law updates you need to handle your next case. Learn how to master jury selection, navigate the administrative hurdles of FOID reinstatements, and discover how to better guide juvenile clients through the legal system. A look at the immigration issues affecting non-citizen defendants is also included, as well as a review of recent case law updates. Register here.

Illinois Lawyer Finder Makes Over 1,100 Referrals in September

Marybeth Stanziola — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:57:39 +0000

The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays. The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law. For the month of September, 2026, the ISBA helped 1,114 people in need of legal services find lawyers.

This number does not include additional referrals made through the online Illinois Lawyer Finder service.

Want to be part of the ISBA Lawyer Finder Service? Call (800) 252-8908 and ask for the Legal Department, or visit www.illinoislawyerfinder.com

Potential clients should call (800) 922-8757.

Second District Appellate Court Program to Assist Self-Represented Litigants to Begin Nov. 1

Marybeth Stanziola — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:27:24 +0000

The Illinois Appellate Court Second District is pleased to announce that the launch of a new pilot program aimed at assisting self-represented litigants (SRLs) will take place on November 1. The number of appeals filed by SRLs now makes up approximately 50 percent of filings and continues to increase. This innovative program is designed to address the difficulties experienced both by SRLs and the other party by offering free mediation with volunteer attorneys as mediation advocates.

“Our goal is to solve the problem that brought the parties to court in the first place and a trained mediator may be able to end the controversy to both sides’ satisfaction,” said Second District Presiding Justice Christopher M. Kennedy. “People without attorneys who file appeals have a difficult time navigating the rules of procedure and we think this program will improve the experience for everyone.”

The program will require both lawyer-mediators and pro bono mediation attorneys. Free CLEs hosted by the Appellate Lawyers Association and the Public Interest Law Initiative will be held on October 8 from 2-4 p.m. [for pro bono mediation attorneys] and on October 15 from 2-4 p.m. [for lawyer-mediators]. Click here to register.

The new program will feature mediation, which is a settlement conference facilitated by a trained mediator with the goal of resolving the matter that brings the litigants to court by voluntary agreement. During mediation, a volunteer lawyer will provide guidance and support to the SRL, helping them to better understand the process.

The program is funded by a grant from the Access to Justice Commission, chaired by Judge Jorge Ortiz of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit in Lake County.

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

David T. Arena (1968-2026)

Marybeth Stanziola — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:22:36 +0000

David Thomas Arena Esq., 58, passed away, surrounded by his loving wife and son, on October 2, 2026. David is a man whose larger-than-life personality could fill any room and warm any heart. Known for his infectious smile and enthusiasm and unshakeable love for his family, David lived life at full throttle, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, adventure, and deeply cherished memories. David was born March 5, 1968 in New Jersey.

David met his wife, Bridget, when they were young adults in 1988. Together, they turned life into an endless adventure. Whether traveling to new places, tackling life’s challenges hand-in-hand, or finding joy in the quiet everyday moments at home. David and Bridget were inseparable. For 38 incredible years together, they built a life centered on home, family and travel. Their marriage was defined by countless adventures, from exploring the world together to attending Chicago street festivals, hosting backyard BBQs, or simply making a meal together at home. David approached everything with enthusiasm, leaving behind a legacy of love that will never fade.

Together they had one son, Nathan Daniel, and were proud to raise him with the morals and values infused in their own upbringings. Nothing in his life compared to the joy of being a dad. David was a fiercely supportive and deeply engaged father, constantly laughing and bringing warmth to every moment. Among his favorite traditions was his weekly father-son night out with Nathan at Buffalo Wild Wings, a special time they both cherished.

David attended Loyola University Chicago where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1993. He was a member of the Phi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society and recipient of the Presidential Scholarship

Immediately upon graduation, David moved to Cleveland to attend Cleveland Marshall College of Law where he received his J.D. with honors in 1996. During his time in law school, David took first place in the Cleveland Marshall College of Law Moot Court Competition, where he received the Dean’s Moot Court Award for Outstanding Advocate and the Hugo Black Award for Outstanding Oralist. David participated in the 1995 ABA National Moot Court Competition, where his team was awarded Best Ohio School and Best Respondents’ Brief. In addition, David received the Cleveland Marshall Law Alumni Scholarship Award consecutively in 1995 and 1996.

To David, a stranger was just a lifelong friend he hadn’t met yet. He greeted new faces with genuine curiosity and open arms, expanding his circle wherever life took him. Remarkably, the deep bonds he forged during those joyful youth years remained unbroken; he stayed fiercely loyal to his school friends, laughing and sharing life with them until his very last days.

David T. Arena is the Principal of Arena Law Office, LLC. David began his law career with DiMonte & Lizak in 1996, becoming an Equity Partner in 2005. David left his position as equity partner to start his own law firm – Arena Law Office LLC. in January of 2020. Throughout his illustrious career, spanning 30 years, he provided unparalleled legal counsel in the areas of commercial litigation, construction law, business law, trial and appellate work, mechanic’s liens, mortgage foreclosures, probate litigation, contract law, municipal law – code and ordinance violations, land use and zoning, and condominium law. David has recorded a compilation of ISBA Consumer Law Videos on Mechanic’s Liens and authored two chapters for the 2014 Edition of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education “Mechanics Liens in Illinois”. His passion, brilliance, and steadfast commitment to justice will forever be remembered by all who had the privilege of working alongside him or seeking his counsel.

To say David was an avid Chicago Bears fan would be an understatement; Sundays in the fall were a sacred ritual of shouting at the TV while wearing his lucky jersey. When he wasn’t cheering on his beloved Bears, he was answering the call of the great outdoors. He was a true nature lover who found peace and excitement in equal measure—whether he was quietly casting a line while fishing at dawn, carving down snowy mountains on his skis, or exploring the depths of the ocean as an enthusiastic scuba diver.

David is survived by his devoted wife, Bridget Arena (née Morlock) and his son, Nathan; his mother Antonetta Arena, father and stepmother, J. Paul and Dorothy Arena, brothers Paul (Gigi) Arena, John (Jill) Arena, Marc (Christy) Arena, Tom (Jessie) Arena, sister Sandi (Mike) Fisher and stepsister Michele (Aaron) Hayes.

He’s also survived by twenty-three loving nieces and nephews and their children: Erica Arena (Luca Grey), Jonathan (Jamie) Arena (Wyatt), Joseph Arena, Jennifer Arena, Ella (Jacob) Woods (Laney Mae), Sophia Arena, Liam Arena, Gavin Arena, Gabriel Arena, Jaques Mitchell (William), James (Candace) Mitchell (Mason), Jordan Mitchell, Daniel Morlock, Danielle (Kyle) Cabrerra (Aiden and Autumn), Spencer Troline, Calista Morlock, Payton Morlock, Sophia Pielet, Gianna Pielet, Anastasia Abbasi, Simone Abbasi, Elise Abbasi, and Jaqueline Abbasi.

He is predeceased by his grandparents, Giovanni and Mary Arena, Godfather and Uncle Salvatore Arena, and his brothers-in-law; Daniel J. Morlock and David C. Morlock.

David was a familiar and welcome face throughout Park Ridge. He took great pride in civic leadership, actively serving as a Board Member for the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce and contributing to local traditions on the Park Ridge Farmers Market Committee. Driven by a profound sense of service to others, he also trained and volunteered with the Park Ridge Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Known for being always willing to help if needed, David was well known, well liked, and always ready to lend a helping hand to neighbors and strangers alike.

David lived life with an open heart and an infectious energy. He was known as the spark in every room. He had a rare gift for turning ordinary moments into wild, legendary adventures, bringing people together through his fun and famously crazy antics. David believed that family and friends are what matter most in life and he looked for every opportunity to bring people closer. He possessed a rare warmth that naturally turned good friends into family. David leaves behind a vast network of devoted family and friends who will carry his adventurous torch forward.

View memorial service details.

Family Law Update: Music City Conference 2026

Marybeth Stanziola — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:36:56 +0000

On October 2-3, 2026, the ISBA Family Law Section presented the Family Law Update: Music City Conference 2026 at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Thank you to our sponsors, vendors, speakers, and everyone who attended! We hope you enjoyed the comprehensive lineup of programming and all of the fun activities Nashville had to offer.