The Seventh Circuit along with Seventh and Eighth Circuits’ district courts are hosting the Fourth Annual Bill of Rights Day Contest. 

The Contest is open to all students in middle school (grades 5-8) and high school (grades 9-12) in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  Students are encouraged to submit art (visual art, poem, song, video, drawings and paintings) and essays on the Importance of the Bill of Rights.

Finalists from each grade level will receive a $50 prize and advance to the finals.  Grand prize winners will be awarded a $500 cash prize, be able to take part in a virtual award ceremony with a federal judge on Wednesday, December 6, and have their name and submission shared on the websites of the participating United States District Courts.

Finalists will be notified before Thanksgiving and grand prize winners will be announced at the LIVE virtual zoom event on December 6th.  Must be present to win the grand prize.

Submissions deadline is October 29.   For contest prompts, complete rules, and a link to the online submission form, please visit https://judiciallearningcenter.org/bill-of-rights-day/.

Everyone is encourage to join the virtual award event on December 6th at 6:00-7:00 p.m. CT.  Contest participation is not required for the virtual event.  Click here to register for the webinar.

Questions regarding the contest can be directed to the Courts Public Services Administrator, Lauren Thiel at Lauren_Thiel@ilnd.uscourts.gov

For additional information please see below:

•           2023 Event Flyer.pdf

•           2023 Contest Flyer.pdf

On Thursday, October 12, 2023 the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (“IPLAC”) and the Richard Linn American Inn of Court will host a hybrid program focusing on AI basics and legal issues.

The event will be held at Jones Day, 110 N. Wacker Drive, 48th Floor Chicago, Illinois. 

The program runs from 6-7pm with a reception afterward. There is also an online attendance option.

This event is free for anyone attending virtually, $25 for non-members and $15 for students.  Please email Katie Cordova at kcordova@gbc.law if you plan to attend.

On October 26, 2023, from 11:45 – 5:30 p.m. the IPLAC and the Symposium Committee Leaders, including Julie Langdon of Vedder Price and Dunstan Barnes of McAndrews, Held & Malloy are hosting a series of panels where you will hear directly from Judges and thought leaders about current intellectual property topics and trends. 

Featured Panels will be with:

In-House Panel (12:00 – 1:00 p.m.)

  • Kwanwoo Lee, UnitedHealth Group
  • Selena Spritz, Walgreens
  • Dennis Garcia, Microsoft
  • Erin Lothson, Dandy

Copyright Panel (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.)

  • Miranda Means, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
  • Cary Levitt, Epiq
  • Jonathan Jennings, Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hillard & Geraldson LLP
  • Amber Carpenter, Ferrara Candy Company

Trade Secrets (2:10 – 2:40 p.m.)

  • Russell Beck, Beck Reed Riden LLP

Fireside Chat (3:20 – 4:20 p.m.)

  • Details Coming Soon

Trademark Panel (3:20 – 4:20 p.m.)

  • Richard Stockton, Banner & Witcoff Ltd.
  • Angela Kalsi, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
  • Michelle Zimmermann, Leydig, Voit & Mayer

Judges Panel (4:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

  • Details Coming Soon

The event will be held at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago.  Lunch will be provided.  Click here to register.

Pricing for the event is as follows: 

IPLAC Members – $140

IPLAC Faculty Members – $110

IPLAC In-House Members – $90

IPLAC Student Members – $40

Non-Members – $200

The Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is hosting a program designed to develop skills in written and oral advocacy.  All new lawyers, summer associates, interns and law students are invited to this in-person seminar on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The seminar will take place at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Ceremonial Courtroom, 219 S. Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60604.  The event is free, a reception will follow the program and offers two hours of CLE credit, pending approval.  Click here to register.

Judge Matthew Kennelly will preside over oral arguments of two dispositive motions and if possible, will rule from the bench.  The following judges will offer advice and discuss best practices: 

  • Hon. Steven Seeger, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Illinois
  • Hon. Nancy Maldonado, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Illinois
  • Hon. Young Kim, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Northern District of Illinois

The Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is hosting a program designed to introduce the Northern District of Illinois’ newest district court judges on Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided, along with one hour of credit, pending approval. The event is being hosted at the Chicago Bar Association, 321 S Plymouth Court, in Chicago. The moderator will be Edward W. Feldman of Miller Shakman Levine & Feldman LLP.  The district court judges (identified below) will speak and answer questions about their experiences on the bench, effective advocacy and other essential tips.  Register here for the event. 

Hon. Iain D. Johnston U.S. District Court Judge Northern District of Illinois
Hon. Iain D. Johnston
U.S. District Court Judge
Northern District of Illinois
Hon. Nancy L. Maldonado U.S. District Court Judge Northern District of Illinois
Hon. Nancy L. Maldonado
U.S. District Court Judge
Northern District of Illinois
Hon. Franklin U. Valderrama U.S. District Court Judge Northern District of Illinois
Hon. Franklin U. Valderrama
U.S. District Court Judge
Northern District of Illinois
Hon. Lindsay C. Jenkins U.S. District Court Judge Northern District of Illinois
Hon. Lindsay C. Jenkins
U.S. District Court Judge
Northern District of Illinois

The Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is hosting the Annual State of the Court Address on June 14, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Chief Judge, Honorable Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, will discuss major developments and future plans for the Northern District of Illinois.

The event is being hosted at the Chicago Bar Association, 321 S Plymouth Ct, Seminar Room-5th Flr, Chicago, IL.  Lunch will be provided.  Click here to register.

The Northern District has implemented a great addition to the ECF system. In cases with a referral, typically to a magistrate judge, filers will now have to select which judge a motion should be directed toward. Practically, this is a great addition because in limited instances motions were routed incorrectly and could end up in limbo.

Here are the images from the Clerk:

Pending Referrals

On Thursday, April 20, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT, the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (“IPLAC”) and the International Relations Committee will host EPO attorney Alexander Korenberg, Partner at Kilburn & Strode LLP. Alexander will share his insights on technical effect in the EPO, and how it relates to patenting Artificial Intelligence (AI) inventions.

This event is $15 for Members and $45 for Non-Members.  Please register by clicking here.

On Thursday, March 30, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (“IPLAC”) and DePaul University’s Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (CIPLIT®) will host a lecture series on the Amgen v. Sanofi case.  Join Professor Joshua Sarnoff (DePaul University College of Law), John M. Augustyn (Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd.) and Eric J. Hamp (Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.) for an interesting lecture on a case that deals with patent applications and enablement. 

This hybrid (in-person and online) program is free.  RSVP by clicking here and provide how you plan to attend.

The Judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association invite you to their Twenty-Third Annual Awards for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Ceremony.  The Ceremony will take place on Monday, May 1, 2023 beginning at 2:00 p.m at the James Benton Parsons Memorial Courtroom, Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse, 25th Fl., 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago.  The Keynote Speaker will be Matthew Moschella, President of the Federal Bar Association. 

Please RSVP by April 21, 2023 to ProBonoAwards@ilnd.uscourts.gov.