Judges & General Counsel Discuss the New Time Standards for Illinois Trial Courts and The Effective Use of Court Appointed Neutrals to Assist the Court (6/8/23)

This is an in-person program hosted at The Chicago Bar Association Building (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604). 

In this program, Judges & General Counsel will discuss the impact of the new time standards for Illinois trial courts and the effective use of court appointed neutrals to assist the court. The Illinois Supreme Court’s adoption of new standards for case management in the trial courts will require judges and lawyers to work to resolve cases faster. This seminar will focus on those standards and the use of court-appointed neutrals to help facilitate resolution. 

Presented by: The Chicago Bar Association, Academy of Court Appointed Neutrals, Illinois Judges Association, and Illinois State Bar Association

2:00-2:05 p.m. Introduction of the Program 

2:05-2:25 p.m. The New Illinois Supreme Court Time Standards for Case Closure 

Speaker: Judge Thomas R. Mulroy (Ret.), Resolute Systems, LLC

2:25-3:00 p.m. Court-Appointed Neutrals' Role Assisting with Compliance with the Time Standards
The unique role of the neutral assisting the court to comply with the new time standards; the qualities of the court-appointed neutral and how to find one. 

Speakers:
Deborah Greenspan, BlankRome; Academy of Court Appointed-Neutrals
Merril Hirsh, FCIArb, Executive Director, Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals 

3:00-3:20 p.m. ABA Guidelines on The Use of Special Masters in State Court 

Speakers:
Judge Thomas R. Mulroy (Ret.), Resolute Systems, LLC
James Reiman, FCIArb, Q.Arb. Reiman ADR 

3:20-4:15 p.m.  Judges Discuss the Time Standards and Court-Appointed Neutrals
The use of neutrals in complex cases; are Special Masters commonly engaged in the system; how will judges adapt to the new rules relating to time limits? 

Moderator: Judge Thomas R. Mulroy (Ret.), Resolute Systems, LLC
Panelists: 
Judge Patrick Sherlock, Supervising Judge Commercial Section, Law Division, Circuit Court of Cook County
Judge Karen L. O’Malley, Law Division Circuit Court of Cook County
Judge Patricia Sheahan, Law Division, Circuit Court of Cook County 

4:15-5:00 p.m. General Counsels Discuss the Justice System
How clients view litigation and what they think should be done to make the process more affordable; the use of Special Masters; the future of litigation. 

Moderators: Judge Thomas R. Mulroy (Ret.), Resolute Systems, LLC; John C. Sciacotta, Partner Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa

Panelists: 
John Levitske, Senior Managing Director, Litigation & Disputes, HKA
Jason Klingensmith, Assistant General Counsel, Complex Litigation, Sales and Marketing, General Motors
Jason Miller, Vice President and General Counsel for Union Carbide Corporation, a Dow Subsidiary, and Senior Counsel-Litigation for Dow 
Ashley Rafael, General Counsel Midway Moving & Storage; John C. Sciacotta, Partner Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa

5:00-6:00 p.m. Reception 
The presenters and participants will be able to network and discuss the issues presented in the seminar.  

Cost: $20 CBA CLE Advantage Plan Member/$40 Member/$40 Nonmember

Credit: 3.00 IL PR MCLE Credit

Where: Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, Il 60604

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Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

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Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live.