13th Annual Symposium with the Judges

Join your judges and colleagues for our 13th Annual Symposium with the Judges, an event to provide sitting judges from Cook County a forum to share their wisdom and advice with the lawyers who appear before them. As panelists, the judges field questions, offer candid comments, provide valuable advocacy tips and reveal the policies and procedures that are unique to their courtrooms. You’ll hear the ‘state of the law division’, current motion practice procedures and the latest timelines, and with trials back in full swing detailed discussions about strategies for trying cases today.

If you looking for assistance with your streaming of the 13th Annual Symposium with the Judges, you may reach out to our streaming partner IICLE directly at 217-787-2080 or info@iicle.com.

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Topics / Agenda
Speakers

1:00pm - 1:10pm

Opening Remarks

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans

1:15pm - 2:00pm

State of the Law Division – Return to trials and other procedural updates

Speakers:
• Hon. James P. Flannery, Jr., Presiding Judge, Law Division
• Hon. Brendan A. O’Brien, Motion Section
• Discussion Leader: Robert A. Clifford, Founder and Senior Partner, Clifford Law Offices

Topics:
• The progress of trials and courtroom logistics
• Trial setting call
• Other procedural or administrative updates

2:05pm - 2:50pm

Motion Section – Keeping things moving

Speakers:
• Hon. Kathy M. Flanagan, Supervising Judge, Motion Section
• Hon. James O’Hara, Motion Section
• Hon. Daniel A. Trevino, Motion Section
• Discussion Leader: Stacey Cischke, Shareholder, Johnson & Bell Ltd

Topics:
• Case management changes
• Tips for resolving discovery disputes
• Settlement process and use of mandatory arbitration

3:05pm - 3:50pm

Trial Section I – Up until trial

Speakers:
• Hon. Bridget Jane Hughes, Trial Section
• Hon. Thomas V. Lyons II, Trial Section
• Hon. Robert E. Senechalle Jr., Trial Section
• Discussion Leader: John Patton, Managing Partner, Patton & Ryan LLC

Topics:
• Continuances Rule 231
• Settlement conferences
• The impact of Illinois Supreme Court timelines on discovery
• Motions in limine
• Jury selection – strategies, questionnaires, COVID effect on jury pools

4:00pm - 4:45pm

Trial Section II – Getting trial done

Speakers:
• Hon. Elizabeth M. Budzinski, Trial Section
• Hon. Janet Adams Brosnahan, Trial Section
• Hon. Thomas More Donnelly, Trial Section
• Discussion Leader: Lou Cairo, Managing Partner, GWC Injury Lawyers LLC

Topics:
• Evidentiary objections – do’s and don’ts
• Jury instruction and verdict forms
• Use of technology – tips and tricks
• Resolving unexpected situations during trial

Discussion Leader