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  

You can also find these forms at ilcourts.info/forms under the “Supreme Court Forms” tab.

Fourth District, Illinois Appellate Court

201 West Monroe Street

Springfield, IL 62704

Applicants may be required to submit additional materials and/or complete job specific tests for the position.

POSITION:	Appellate Court Research Attorney
DIVISION:	Fourth District, Illinois Appellate Court
BENEFITS:	The Judicial Branch offers an attractive benefits package that includes pension, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, deferred compensation, and generous leave time.
MINIMUM SALARY:	$83,528
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:	Legal Research Director

DESCRIPTION:  The Fourth District Appellate Court is seeking new graduates and experienced attorneys with a passion for legal writing and a strong interest in appellate law for the position of Appellate Court Research Attorney. A Fourth District Research Attorney provides necessary and valuable assistance to the Justices of the Fourth District Appellate Court.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The Appellate Court Research Attorney performs legal research, analysis, and writing and reviews and assists in the drafting of judicial orders, opinions, and other legal documents for the Justices in matters before the Fourth District Appellate Court. 

FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:

• Analyze issues raised by the parties on appeal.
• Review briefs and appellate records, verify appellate jurisdiction, and research applicable law.
• Draft proposed dispositions, memoranda, and other legal documents.
• Confer on a regular basis with Justices, Law Clerks, and other Appellate Court Research Attorneys on assignments and corresponding analysis.
• Make recommendations to the Research Director and Justices.
• Edit final draft orders, opinions, dissents, and special concurrences.
• Remain current on recent opinions of the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts, other relevant state and federal cases.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Candidates must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. Candidates must possess superior research, analytical, and writing skills. Candidates must have strong information technology skills including proficiency with commonly used office software such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Acrobat. Competence in the use of web-based case management software and the ability to perform electronic legal research is also required. Practicing attorneys and recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Currently, fully remote work is possible for Illinois residents with prior appellate court research attorney or judicial clerking experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time.

Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest, a resume, a self-edited professional writing sample, a law school transcript, and three references, via e-mail, to:

AC_District4_Clerk@illinoiscourts.gov

This position will remain open until filled.

However, those individuals submitting materials by Tuesday, October 15, 2024, will be given first consideration.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court's Legal Research Division is seeking to hire an Appellate Attorney to assist the justices and the Clerk of the Appellate Court with a variety of legal and procedural issues relating to the appeals filed with the Court. This position assists the Clerk of the Appellate Court and Chief Deputy Clerk with overseeing the management and day-to-day operations of the Clerk’s Office. Work is performed with considerable independence and latitude for professional judgment under the direction of the Clerk of the Appellate Court and is evaluated through conferences, observation of work in progress, and work completed. Please note, this is a full-time in-person position and does not allow for remote work.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Candidates must be graduates of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. Candidates must possess superior research, case analysis, and writing skills. Candidates must have strong information technology skills including proficiency with commonly used office software such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Acrobat. Competence in the use of web-based case management software and the ability to perform electronic legal research is also required.  Practicing attorneys and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time. This is a professional office working environment requiring telephone and computer usage and the ability to process written documents.

Interested individuals are asked to submit a resume, letter of interest, professional writing sample, law school transcript, and three references, via e-mail, to AC5@illinoiscourts.gov by August 30, 2024.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is accepting applications for a full-time United States Magistrate Judge position in the Eastern Division, stationed at the Everett McKinley Dirksen courthouse. The deadline for submission of completed applications is 5:00 pm on September 5, 2024. To be qualified for appointment as a Magistrate Judge, an applicant must be, and have been for at least five years, a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands of the United States, and have been engaged in the active practice of law for at least five years, be less than 70 years of age, and not be related to a judge of the district court. 

The present annual salary is $223,836. A US Magistrate Judge who retires after attaining the age of 65 years and serving at least 14 years, whether continuously or not, shall be entitled to receive an annuity equal to the salary being received at the time the Magistrate leaves office. 

All applications must be submitted through the US District Court's application website at: US Magistrate Judge Application.

July 16, 2024

Notice of Adoption of Modifications to Circuit Rules 31, 34, 40, 47, and 60

On April 12, 2024, this court issued notice that it proposed modifications to Circuit Rules 31, 34, 40, 47, and 60. The court carefully considered the comments received and made an additional modification to Circuit Rule 34. The court hereby provides notice of adoption of the attached modifications, effective immediately.