MCBA Newsletter updated-court news may 11, 2020
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2020
May Events 5/12/20 (Tues.) BOG Committee Meeting 5/19/20 (Tues.) - Virtual CLE Event 5/22/20 (Fri.) - Virtual GAL Committee Meeting 5/25/20 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 5/26/20 (Tues.) CLE Committee Meeting 5/27/20 (Wed.) Tentative State-of-Circuit Update June Events 6/16/20 (Tues.) - Tentative Annual Bar Meeting July Events 7/3/20 (Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed 7/21/20 (Tues.) - Virtual CLE Luncheon-Collections August Events 8/18/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon September Events 9/7/20 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 9/15/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon 9/25/20 (Fri.) Law Day Celebration Gala October Events 10/12/20 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 10/20/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon 10/21 & 22 (Tues. & Wed.) GAL Conference November Events 11/11/20 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 11/17/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon 11/26 & 11/27/20 (Thurs. & Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed December Events 12/24 & 25 (Thurs. & Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed 2021 January Events 1/1/21 (Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed |
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTThis past week, a Zoom conference was presented by representatives from the United Way outlining the tremendous work that it is performing to provide assistance to our local food banks, families of students from some of our local schools and others in need. The presentation provided information as to the number of ways and resources as to how we can, as a Bar Association, either individually and/or as a group, contribute to the effort called “Feeding BN & Beyond”. See this LINK. We are now looking into the possibility of having our association added to its GoFundMe page in order for our members to financially contribute through this vehicle. In the meantime, you can be learn more about the ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts of the United Way from updates in its weekly virtual town meetings, scheduled to be held every Saturday at 11 am. These meetings identify the emerging needs in the community and identify potential collaborators and solutions to address these needs. I invite you to appear for the Virtual Town Hall. If interested, please use the following link to join the Zoom meetings - https://zoom.us/j/98594398744 .. Or dial +1 312 626 6799; Meeting ID: 985 9439 8744. Lastly, if you are interested in volunteering at a food distribution site, you can sign up through Eastview’s sign-up genius LINK. We all remain optimistic that this COVID crisis will soon quiet down and that we can return to normalcy. Unfortunately, substantial efforts will be needed to address and overcome the aftermath and adverse impact of COVID, especially for needy families and those less fortunate. I hope you can help! For our upcoming Bar activities, Judges McFarland and Costigan are slated to present next Tuesday, May 19th on their Specialty Courts-Recovery and Drug Courts. Registration HERE. I hope that our Bench for McLean and other counties in our circuit will have enough information to be able to provide us another quasi-State of the Circuit, via Zoom, on how matters will be handled when things start to return to normal operations at the Circuit's courthouses, including the expected procedures, how hearings and trials, if any, will be handled over the coming months, etc. If possible, details include - how movements within the courthouses will be addressed with everyone's use of elevators, gathering in the hallways, courtrooms, and clerk's offices, etc. Once again, if we can make it work, we would look to presenting it on Wednesday, May 27th, and if you are unable to attend, we would hope to have it recorded for your viewing at a later date. Stay tuned for further details. At this time, I am leaning to moving the Bar's Annual meeting, currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th, to the month of July. My hope is to maximize the amount of time for this pandemic to settle down before hosting such a large gathering. I so appreciate your patience and understanding if we do reschedule. We should know more this week. Have a great week. Be safe! Joe Foley court news
Since mid-March, the Judges have been collaboratively working to find safe, appropriate and creative ways to move cases forward that include conducting remote and virtual hearings. While many of the pandemic-related issues come with great trepidation, it is also exciting to be part of some truly revolutionary changes that may become fixtures in our Courts as a result of what we are learning and implementing during the pandemic. This is not necessarily the way we would have liked to pioneer these methods, but it has greatly sped up the process and allow us to hear cases. As you know, the Law and Justice Center has remained open throughout the pandemic and fortunately we have been able to effectively handle emergency and essential matters. Everyone has lots of questions about how and when the Courts will resume full operations. While I would like to give you a detailed answer, that is impossible. Things today look wildly different than they did in early March and things may look wildly different in June than they do now. We expect a gradual “ramping up” of in-person courthouse activity starting in June 2020, but that could change based on the evolving circumstances. We are constantly monitoring the situation and are receiving constant communication from health officials, the Illinois Supreme Court, the Conference of Chief Judges and others. As attorneys, we naturally despise uncertainty and unpredictability and the Judiciary understands that rapidly communicating changes in the Court’s operations to the Bar and to the public helps alleviate some of that uncertainty and unpredictability. I promise that the Bar will be in the first group to know when court operations change. To reduce courthouse foot traffic, several dockets, including the Family Division, portions of the Law Division, and portions of the Criminal Division will continue conducting remote hearings for certain cases for the foreseeable with the ability to have in-person hearings on a case-by-case basis. These efforts will both reduce courthouse foot traffic and allow some courtrooms to be used for other purposes such as overflow and jury related issues. In addition to reducing foot traffic while ramping operations up, physical changes and building precautions are being made at the Law and Justice Center to minimize the repeated touching of door handles/courtroom swinging gates and other high-touch areas, social distancing markers, signage, and revised seating layouts throughout the building in addition to other recommended health precautions. Should you have any questions or concerns on court operations, please contact the Trial Court Administrator, William Scanlon at (309) 888-5266. Stay safe and we all look forward to seeing all of you whether it be in person or remotely. I look forward to providing you with future updates and to welcoming all of you back to the Law and Justice Center. With regards, Chief Judge Mark A. Fellheimer
Please find the latest article release COVID19: The Short and Long Term Mental Health Consequences by Dr. Diana Uchiyama, LAP Executive Director at this LINK. The JOY CARE CENTER in Bloomington-Normal was a charity supported by the late Judge Ronald Dozier. It accepts used suits, sport coats, pant suits, etc., for use in more formal settings. With the blessing of Jackie Dozier, after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, I will be sponsoring an outdoor gathering at my restored native area property in Southwest Bloomington, which will provide less exposure than an indoor venue. The only entry requirement will be a donation to the JOY CARE CENTER. The extra time at home would be a great time to go through your closets and decide what clothing items you are no longer wearing to court or to the office and set them aside for a donation.
During this time of reduced hours, I have revised my own estate planning documents. I included this language “My suits, sport coats, ties and business clothing shall be donated to JOY CARE CENTER in McLean County, Illinois”. Some of the judges and other attorneys might facetiously ask who would want them? As a probate attorney, I’ll add that you’ll be doing your spouses a favor by directing them on how to start clearing out your closets when you pass away. Dan Deneen
Please click on the above logo to view the IDPH website.
As you are probably already familiar with the personal safety guidance, there is also a need for an awareness of employee and staff of businesses. Please see this LINK for more information. announcement
I hope everyone is doing well during this challenging time. Prairie State Legal Services is fully staffed and accepting cases. Our physical office is closed. Our staff are working from home. Our staff’s contact information has not changed. Please contact Adrian at abarr@pslegal.org or (309) 433-0065 if you have any questions. Adrian Barr 2020
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June 4
The Relationship Among Trust Beneficiaries and Trustees, the IRS and the Courts July 9 Ethics-Based Obligations in Specific Client Engagements August 6 Maximizing Flexibility With Powers of Appointment September 3 Picking Up the Pieces: Post-Divorce Planning |
October 1
Moving the Needle With Your Clients’ Retirement Asset Planning October 29 Contemporary Challenges in Trust Administration December 3 Essential Asset Protection Planning January 7, 2021 Conflicts of Interest Issues Facing Estate Planning Professionals |
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
bar committee activities
2020
BOG Meeting - May 12 noon
Law Day Committee Meeting - May 20 12:00 noon
GAL Committee Meeting - May 22 12:00 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - May 26 12:00 noon
BOG Meeting - May 12 noon
Law Day Committee Meeting - May 20 12:00 noon
GAL Committee Meeting - May 22 12:00 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - May 26 12:00 noon
save the dates
2020
may 19 - cle virtual meeting - recovery & drug courts
may 27 - tentative state-of-the-circuit update
june 16 - tentative annual meeting
july 21 - cle luncheon or virtual meeting - collections
SEPTEMBER 25 - LAW DAY GALA.. AN EVENING EVENT
october 21-22 -gal conference
november 13 - 15 - the isu invitational mock trial tournament
MCBA Breakfast with the Bar - cancelled until further notice
Remember to have “Breakfast with the Bar” every Friday morning between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. It’s a great way to meet and talk with your fellow attorneys in an informal setting. Stay for 10 minutes and have a cup of coffee or stay for an hour and have a full breakfast before court. Grab an associate, partner or friend and come. See you Friday!
Remember to have “Breakfast with the Bar” every Friday morning between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. It’s a great way to meet and talk with your fellow attorneys in an informal setting. Stay for 10 minutes and have a cup of coffee or stay for an hour and have a full breakfast before court. Grab an associate, partner or friend and come. See you Friday!