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S. IL federal judges rescind policies critics said discriminated vs white male lawyers
In letters to their chief judge, the federal judges acknowledged the policies, which encouraged law firms to allow young lawyers, who are female or non-white, to argue cases at least created a perception of discrimination
'De facto invisible': High costs, court rules, lack of online access can block public from monitoring 'public' court proceedings
A settlement has resolved a class action vs federal courts over fees charged to access online court documents. But high costs for certain records and varying court rules about public access to court records in Illinois and elsewhere create a legal patchwork that mostly limits public view into the courts
Spyropoulos wins circuit court clerk race, becomes latest to pledge to modernize, restore trust in embattled office
Mariyana Spyropoulos rode big support from Cook County Democratic Party to defeat incumbent one-term incumbent Iris Martinez
Judge blocks big piece of IL Dems' temp worker regulation law
A Chicago federal judge ruled that major changes to Illinois' law regulating temp workers and day laborers can't take effect because they are preempted by federal law
IL Supreme Court asked to hear cross-appeals on judge’s order declaring forum law unconstitutional
Madison County Associate Judge Ronald Foster’s order declaring Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s forum law is unconstitutional for plaintiffs residing or injured outside of Cook and Sangamon Counties has been appealed directly to the Illinois Supreme Court by both parties for separate reasons.
Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions
Lawsuits claim Henyard mistreated, fired workers in Dolton, Thornton Township for refusing illegal schemes
Three ex-Dolton village and Thornton Township workers claim Dolton Mayor and Thorntown Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard demanded they perform illegal acts, then allegedly harassed them, and ultimately fired them for refusing.
Ex-megachurch pastor's defamation claims vs opposing lawyers doesn't end attorney-client privilege: Appeals court
The decision means ex-Harvest Bible Chapel pastor James MacDonald can't get access to certain documents he claims he needs to see to press his legal claims against the church's former lawyers.
Foster declares Pritzker's venue law unconstitutional, refuses to transfer firearm liability challenge to Sangamon County
Madison County Associate Judge Ronald J. Foster Jr. declared Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s forum law favoring Cook and Sangamon County is unconstitutional and denied Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s motion to transfer an Alton gun store’s constitutional challenge to both the venue law and the firearm liability law.
Bring Chicago Home votes will be counted after IL Supreme Court nixes challengers' bid for appeal
The decision lets stand an appellate court's ruling that Illinois residents cannot ask courts to review before the election any referendum questions placed on the ballot by the Chicago City Council or other elected "legislative" bodies, "regardless of how blatantly unconstitutional"
Bears sued for discriminating vs white males in 'Diversity' job post limited to 'people of color,' women
The lawsuit was filed in Chicago federal court, and accused the Chicago Bears of violating state and federal anti-discrimination laws by listing non-white race and 'female' as required job qualifications for a "Diversity Legal Fellow" job opening with the organization
Opponents to Chicago property sales tax hike referendum ask IL Supreme Court to step in
Business groups argued an appellate court's decision reinstating the referendum on the ballot would effectively allow the Chicago City Council and other lawmaking bodies across the state to place any referendum questions on any ballot they wish, regardless if the questions are constitutional
Foxx's No. 2 Risa Lanier seeks judgeship; Lands on list of judicial candidates rated 'Not Qualified' by state bar association
According to an evaluation published by the Illinois State Bar Association, Risa Lanier, First Assistant to Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, was rated "Not Qualified" in part because of other lawyers' concerns over her "honesty" and "poor decision making"
IL Supreme Court: Hockey club that rents ice arena can be sued under IL human rights law for 'banishing' teen diagnosed with depression
The Illinois Supreme Court says the teen's mental health diagnoses mean she could be protected by the IL Human Rights Act's anti-discrimination provisions protecting access to "places of public accommodation." Objectors contended such reasoning could open broad range of private organizations to lawsuits, violating First Amendment
Parents drop lawsuit accusing Skokie Fairview District 72 of racism; District called accusations 'repugnant,' 'baseless'
A group of parents appear to have ended their lawsuit against Skokie Fairview Elementary School District 72, in which they had accused school officials of 'white supremacism,' in part for refusing to accede to demands for 'anti-racism' training for students and staff in response to alleged racist student behavior
Judges: Courts must 'remain on sidelines' on school 'gender support' policies until parents' rights are violated
A federal appeals panel has dismissed a lawsuit brought against Wisconsin school district by parents who say the district's new "gender support guidance" for school staff will inevitably lead to school staff violating their constitutional rights as parents to direct the upbringing of their children
Apple moves to bar software engineering VP from being deposed in BIPA suit; Plaintiffs seek sanctions
Apple product users who claim their biometric identifiers were collected and stored through the Photos App's facial recognition technology seek sanctions against the tech giant for failing to produce its Vice President of Software Engineering for a deposition ahead of the March 8 discovery deadline.
Chicago area investors part of nationwide $180M class action vs movie financier Jason Cloth over filmmaking 'Ponzi scheme'
The complaint asserts Cloth, who has helped finance numerous big money productions, including "Babylon," "Mission: Impossible," "Joker," and "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," is actually an alleged scammer who used multiple entities to try to stay ahead of investors, and leave them holding the bag.
Bring Chicago Home tax hike referendum gets new life; Appeals court says legal challenge 'premature'
A state appeals panel overturned the ruling of a Cook County judge who had invalidated Mayor Brandon Johnson's real estate sales tax hike ballot measure because it illegally asked voters two questions in one referendum. The appeals court said validity challenges need to wait until after the election
Filings: Lawyers Who Sue Police, Defend Accused Criminals Lead Financial Backing of State's Attorney Hopeful Harris
Lawyers who specializing in suing police, and defending accused criminals, make up the largest segment of donors to the campaign of Clayton Harris, III, who is vying for the Democratic nomination for states attorney in the March 19 primary.