The Illinois Supreme Court announced the assignment of Cook County Circuit Judge Clare J. Quish to the First District Appellate Court. Judge Quish is being assigned to fill the vacancy created by the reassignment of Justice LeRoy K. Martin Jr. to the vacancy created by the death of Justice Thomas Hoffman. Judge Quish will be assigned all matters previously assigned to Justice Hoffman. 

For more information see the Supreme Court's announcement on the Illinois Courts website or the ISBA's article here.

This month, the Illinois Appellate Court lost two long-serving justices: Justice Thomas E. Hoffman and Justice Thomas M. Welch. Both justices had distinguished careers serving the public and upholding the Illinois and United States Constitutions.

Justice Hoffman passed away on July 4, 2025. He served on the First District bench since 1993.  Justice Hoffman was first appointed as an associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1984, and before that, was a City of Chicago attorney and worked in private practice.

Justice Welch passed away on July 7, 2025. He served on the Fifth District bench since 1980.  Justice Welch first served as a Circuit Court Magistrate from 1965 to 1971, then as the Madison County Assistant State's Attorney from 1971 to 1972, and also worked in private practice.

You can read more on these two men's distinguished careers and funeral arrangements on the Supreme Court's website:

First District Appellate Court Justice Thomas E. Hoffman Passes Away

Fifth District Appellate Court Justice Thomas M. Welch Passes Away

On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee hosted a public hearing regarding proposals for various rule changes. ALA Vice President Seth Horvath spoke to the committee to advocate for additional clarity in the language of the proposed changes to Rule 13 regarding when an attorney’s representation ends if the attorney decides to terminate the relationship with a client before an appeal.

In particular, Mr. Horvath, on behalf of the ALA, suggested adding language to state that if a notice of appeal is filed and there’s still time within the 30-day filing deadline, the filing of the notice itself terminates representation. This language would clarify that once the notice of appeal is filed, there is no ongoing obligation to file a docketing statement or take any other action related to the appeal. The Committee stated that it saw merit in the ALA’s proposal and expressed its willingness to consider it and continue the discussion.

Read a more in-depth article in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin here.

On June 18, 2024, the Seventh Circuit issued a notice that it proposed modifications to Circuit Rules 46 and 51, and the creation of Circuit Rule 46.1. 

The new modifications can now be seen on the Seventh Circuit's website here.

Today, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals announced the passing of Judge Joel M. Flaum. He passed away on December 4, 2024, having served nearly 50 years on the federal bench. He was 88 years old.

A native of Hudson, New York, Judge Flaum graduated from Union College and moved to Chicago, where he eventually enrolled at Northwestern University School of Law, earning a J.D. degree in 1963 and an LL.M. in 1964. He worked for several years as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County before moving to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, starting as an Assistant Attorney General and rising to the position of First Assistant. In 1972, he became a federal prosecutor, serving as First Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago until 1975.

In December 1974, President Ford appointed him to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He began his service at the age of 38—at the time the youngest federal judge in the nation. Judge Flaum served on the district court until President Reagan elevated him to the Seventh Circuit on June 1, 1983. Judge Flaum was an active-duty circuit judge for more than 37 years. He assumed senior status in November 2020 and continued to serve the court of appeals as a senior judge until his death. In his 41 years as an appellate judge, he authored more than 2,000 published opinions covering virtually every subject within the jurisdiction of the federal courts.

Judge Flaum also held many leadership positions within the federal judiciary. He served as Chief Judge of the Seventh Circuit from August 2000 to November 2006. In connection with that position, he held a seat on the Judicial Conference of the United States and was also a member of the Conference’s Executive Committee. Later he served on the Conference’s  Judicial Conduct and Disability Committee.

In addition to his judicial work, Judge Flaum taught law students for many years as an adjunct professor at Northwestern. He also served for 11 years as a commissioned officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corp in the United States Naval Reserve.

For his many contributions to the federal justice system, last month Judge Flaum received the Opperman Foundation’s Edward J. Devi Distinguished Service to Justice Award, which annually recognizes an Article III judge for lifetime achievement in service to the nation’s courts. Judge Flaum’s other awards include the Order of Lincoln, Illinois’s highest honor for outstanding individual achievement; the Chicago Bar Association’s Justice John Paul Stevens Award; and the American Inns of Court Seventh Circuit Professionalism Award.

The court will hold a formal memorial service in the coming months.

On October 15, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued notice that it proposed the rescission of Circuit Rule 35 and modification of Circuit Rule 26.1(c) to remove the cross-reference to Circuit Rule 35, in anticipation of the elimination of Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 35.

Today, the Court provided formal notice of the adoption of those changes to the Circuit Rules, effective December 1, 2024. 

Justice Jesse G. Reyes, First District, Illinois Appellate Court (Cook County) is seeking a judicial law clerk/secretary for his chambers. The annual salary is $96,349.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:  The judicial law clerk/secretary conducts legal research and assists in drafting memoranda, opinions, and orders. This position also requires performing various administrative duties.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:  Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Illinois. Prior appellate writing and research experience is considered highly preferred. Attention to detail, organizing skills, basic computer skills, and interpersonal skills are essential.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  This position requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time. This is a professional office working environment requiring telephone usage and the ability to process and read large volumes of written documents in electronic formats. Illinois residency is required or willingness to obtain upon job offer.

Applications with resumes, writing samples, and references should be emailed to courtemployment@illinoiscourts.gov. The position will remain open until filled, but applications submitted by November 26, 2024 will be given first consideration. 

October 15, 2024

Notice of Proposed Circuit Rule Changes and Opportunity for Comment

Notice is hereby given that the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071, proposes the rescission of Circuit Rule 35 in anticipation of the elimination of Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 35. The Court of Appeals also proposes modifications to Circuit Rule 26.1(c) to remove the cross-reference to Circuit Rule 35.

A redline version of the proposed rescission of Circuit Rule 35 and modifications to Circuit Rule 26.1(c) are provided below. Written comments on the proposed rule changes should be sent by October 29, 2024, to:

Advisory Committee on Circuit Rules

c/o Clerk of Court

United States Court of Appeals

For the Seventh Circuit

219 South Dearborn Street, Room 2722

Chicago, IL 60604

Comments can also be made via e-mail at:

USCA7_Clerk@ca7.uscourts.gov 

The Child Protection Division of the Circuit Court is looking for attorneys to represent indigent parties on appeal. The fees are $150 per hour. 

Appellate cases are entirely electronic. Appellate attorney reviews are electronic and when hearings are held, very very rarely, they are via Zoom. You should never need to come to Chicago.

Mentors are provided for attorneys who do not have experience representing parents and children in Child Protection Division. 

If interested, contact the Presiding Judge Robert Balanoff at robert.balanoff@cookcountyil.gov for more information. 

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice is pleased to announce that six Illinois Supreme Court form sets have been published today.  The following statewide forms are now available for filing an appeal with the Illinois Supreme Court:

• Petition for Leave to Appeal
• Answer to Petition for Leave to Appeal
• Notice of Election
• Appellant’s Brief
• Appellee’s Brief
• Appellant’s Reply Brief