The federal district courts in Illinois will host two remote continuing legal education seminars on representing prisoners.  The first seminar “Introduction to Prisoner Civil Rights Litigation” will be held on January 27, 2022 and the second seminar “Representing Prisoners in Medical Cases” will be held on February 3, 2022.  Both seminars will be held from

The Northern District and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association are seeking nominations – no later than March 15, 2019 – for outstanding pro bono and public interest representation in civil and criminal matters before the Court.

Factors considered include:

  • dedication to pro bono or public interest work;
  • outstanding achievement resulting from the

The Northern District and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association are seeking nominations (by March 12, 2018) for attorneys who have provided outstanding pro bono and public interest representation in civil and criminal matters before the Northern District that are complete and no longer pending.  In the words of the Northern District:

The

The Northern District and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association are seeking nominations (by April 3, 2015) for attorneys who have provided outstanding pro bono and public interest representation in civil and criminal matters before the Northern District that are complete and no longer pending.  In the words of the Northern District:

The

The Northern District and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association are seeking nominations (by April 11, 2013) for attorneys who have provided outstanding pro bono and public interest representation in civil and criminal matters before the Northern District that are complete and no longer pending. In the words of the Northern District:

The

Kim v. Earthgrains Co., No. 01 C 3895, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Jun. 24, 2010) (Cox, Mag. J.).
Judge Cox denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s patent claims regarding a bread formulation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(A). The Court held that plaintiff made false statements on her in forma pauperis (“IFP”) application. The normal remedy for false IFP application statements was dismissal of the applicant’s case.
But that remedy was not appropriate in this case because plaintiff had not “reaped the benefits” of IFP status. Plaintiff financed her own case for over nine years by mortgaging her house, using credit cards and borrowing from friends and family. Plaintiff only applied for IFP status after the Court suggested it, and only enjoyed its benefits for ten months. And while plaintiff made false statements, they were all either contradicted elsewhere in the application or the false statements tended to portray plaintiff as wealthier than she was. The consumers, therefore, suggested plaintiff misunderstood the question. While the Court did not dismiss plaintiff’s claims, the Court did sanction plaintiff pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 for her false statement. Plaintiff was ordered to pay for here legal services received from pro bono counsel. The Court, however, observed the fees and costs were not likely recoverable unless plaintiff won at trial.

Continue Reading False In Forma Pauperis Application Does Not Warrant Dismissal

The Northern District and the Federal Bar Association are seeking nominations for excellence in pro bono and public interest work. Nominations should be based upon work performed in civil cases before the Northern District which are no longer pending. Nominations should include: the name and address of the nominee; a brief resume; the complete case title; case number and judge for each case; the work done by the nominee on the cases; and the brief summary of the reasons you believe the nominees pro bono work has been outstanding.
Send nominations via email by next Wednesday, April 14 to ProBono2010_ILND@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Contact the Chambers of Chief Judge James F. Holderman with any questions.

Continue Reading Eleventh Annual Pro Bono and Public Interest Awards

Last Friday, May 29 the Northern District held its tenth annual pro bono awards ceremony. Federal Bar Association President Juanita Sales Lee was the keynote speaker. The Court gave out both Awards for Excellence in Pro Bono and an Award for Special Service to the Court. The Excellence awards went to:
* Richard L. Marcus of Sonnenschein Nath Rosenthal LLP (presented by Judge Cox);
* Howard L. Mocerf, Richard P. Darke and Amy E. McCracken of Duane Morris LLP (presented by Judge Manning);
* Kate Jillian Grossman of Sidley Austin LLP (presented by Judge Schenkier);
* Edward M. Fox of Ed Fox & Associates (presented by Chief Judge Holderman);
* Jeffrey D. Colman of Jenner & Block LLP (presented by Judge Bucklo);
* James P. Condon of Central States Funds (presented by Judge St. Eve and Judge Cole);
* Michael George Kelly of the Law Offices of Chadwick & Lakerdas (presented by Judge Manning and Judge Cox);
* Arthur J. Howe of Schopf & Weiss LLP and Julie Ann Sebastian of Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (presented by Judge Lefkow);
And the Special Service Award went to:
* Joel Daly, District Court Information Officer (presented by Chief Judge Holderman).
Congratulations to all of the recipients, and thanks to all of the award recipients for their service.

Continue Reading Tenth Annual Northern District of Illinois Pro Bono Awards

The Northern District and the Federal Bar Association are seeking nominations for excellence in pro bono and public interest work. Nominations should be based upon work performed in civil cases before the Northern District which are no longer pending. Nominations should include: the name and address of the nominee; a brief resume; the complete case title; case number and judge for each case; the work done by the nominee on the cases; and the brief summary of the reasons you believe the nominees pro bono work has been outstanding.
Send nominations by this Friday, April 17 to:
Email: ProBono2009_ILND@ilnd.uscourts.gov
Chambers of the Chief Judge James F. Holderman
219 South Dearborn Street, Suite 2548
Chicago, Illinois 60604

Continue Reading Tenth Annual Pro Bono and Public Interest Awards