Chief Judge Kendall and Clerk Bruton issued a notice that the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) is upgrading the Judiciary Integrated Financial Management System (JIFMS), the federal judiciary’s financial system. That update is expected to impact all federal courts during the upgrade period, June 5, 2025 through July 2, 2025. During that

On May 29, 2025 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter, the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago, and the Northern District will host a special event to mark Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month reflecting on the landmark United States v. Wen Ho Lee case. 

The

On May 8, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT, The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law Center for Intellectual Property, Information and Privacy Law will host the Second Annual Information and Privacy Law Program covering an expansive list of pressing legal topics including agentic AI and DOGE privacy issues.    

The in-person

The Northern District of Illinois has taken a significant step toward improving public accessibility by refreshing its website.

As IP practitioners who regularly navigate federal court resources, this development is particularly welcome. The website is much more user friendly while maintaining the key information attorneys and the public require.

The redesign introduces several notable

The Chicago legal community will gather next week to celebrate the Northern District’s of Illinois twenty-fifth annual Awards for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service, in partnership with the Federal Bar Association at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse.

I am particularly proud to announce that my Holland & Knight colleagues, Melissa

My partner Jake Schneider wrote a very thoughtful and important article on his IP/Decode blog about the impact of the Patent Office’s rescinding former Director Vidal’s memo regarding discretionary denials of inter partes review (IPR) proceedings that are subject to parallel district court litigation. Removing the directives in that memo are likely to have significant

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter proudly announce the Courthouse Book Drive.  Throughout March 2025, donations of new or gently used children’s books (grades K-8) are being accepted for the American Dreams Playroom at the Dirksen Federal Building.  This incredible effort ensures that every

The Supreme Court Historical Society, the Northern District of Illinois, and the ABA’s Division for Public Education are sponsoring a program for Chicago area high school students. Students participating in the Supreme Court and My Hometown program will investigate the judicial branch by examining the local Sixth Amendment case of Escobedo v. Illinois (1964). Students

On February 26, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in collaboration with the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., the Cook County Bar Association, and the Black Men Lawyers’ Association, is hosting a remarkable event titled “Lift Every Voice”.

In honor of

On December 11, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Northern District and the American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive in the Dirksen Building 10th Floor Training Room.  This is a great opportunity to make a difference this holiday season.  Your donation will provide life-saving blood to those in need. 

For