Legal News & Updates
We monitor legal developments to provide timely, insightful guidance, keeping our clients informed of the latest changes in laws, regulations, and industry trends. Our team stays engaged in the evolution of the law, enabling us to proactively address emerging issues and offer strategic counsel for both current and future challenges.
Latest Updates & News
Gov. Pritzker Renews His Call to Ban Cell Phones in Illinois Classrooms
During his annual State of the State address, Governor Pritzker renewed his call to ban cell phone use during school hours, stating, “It’s time to get cell phones out of the classroom.” The Governor’s office cited research showing that “72% of high school teachers identified cell phone distraction as a ‘major problem’ in their classroom.”
ISSRA, Not FOIA: Clarifying Parents’ Avenue to Access Educational Records
Parents have the right to access their student’s educational records. However, there can be confusion as to which avenue under the law they can or should pursue for access to these student records.
Illinois PAC Issues Binding Opinion on Improper Restrictions on Public Comment
The Illinois PAC issued binding opinion 26-001, finding that the Village of Sauk Village violated the Open Meetings Act by impermissibly restricting a member of the public from addressing the Village Board during a committee meeting.
| COVID-19, Law Alerts
Stimulus Bill Gives Employers Option of Extending FFCRA Leave
On December 27, 2020, the federal government authorized $900 billion in stimulus funds through passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act to provide additional relief relative to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
| Law Alerts
Supreme Court Limits Community Colleges’ Ability to Replace Tenured Faculty with Adjuncts
Can a community college hire an adjunct to teach classes which a tenured faculty member who was recently subjected to a reduction in force (“RIF”) is competent to teach? Not…
| COVID-19, In Brief
EEOC Updates Guidance on Vaccinations
In the days since the first COVID-19 vaccinations were administered to healthcare workers in the U.S., the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued new guidance for vaccinations in the workplace. The guidance document explains how an employer’s vaccine program interacts with and implicates anti-discrimination statutes like the ADA, Title VII, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (“GINA”). It also provides parameters for employers who wish to require/administer vaccines.
| COVID-19, Law Alerts
CDC Shortens Quarantine Guidance for Close Contacts
On December 2, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) published an updated quarantine guidance document titled “Options to Reduce Quarantine for Contacts of Persons with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using Symptom Monitoring and Diagnostic Testing.” This publication provides guidelines which local health departments may choose to adopt to shorten quarantine protocols for close contacts of a COVID-19 case.
| COVID-19, Law Alerts
CDC Further Updates Travel Guidance
On November 21, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) updated its “COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination” and issued several other travel-related publications.
| COVID-19, In Brief
Are Board Meetings Subject to the Restrictions in the Regional Mitigation Measures?
With all regions in the State operating under mitigation measures which include limits for in-person meetings (10 or 25 persons depending on the region), there is great confusion about whether…
| Law Alerts
Illinois Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of School Funding System
On September 30, 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court accepted an appeal in Cahokia Unit School District No. 187 et. al. v. Governor J.B. Pritzker and the State of Illinois.
| COVID-19, Law Alerts
Court Rules That Election Day Does Not Close All Local Governments
In June, Governor Pritzker signed Public Act 101-0642 into law, which included the following language about November 3, 2020, General Election
| COVID-19, Law Alerts
As School and COVID Continues, So Do the IDPH Revisions on School Exclusion Guidance
On October 13, 2020, less than 30 days since publishing its last revised interim exclusion guidance, the Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) released its latest version of the “COVID-19 Interim Exclusion Guidance: Decision Tree for Symptomatic Individuals in Pre-K, K-12 Schools and Day Care Programs.
| In Brief
2021 CONSOLIDATED ELECTION CALENDAR
The Covid-19 pandemic has touched nearly all aspects of daily life and as this In Brief goes out the county is less than two months away from a contentious federal election conducted under circumstances few imagined possible at the start of the year. Though the Consolidated Election is not until April 2021—a time some normalcy is hopefully starting to return to our lives—much of the process for nominating candidates and hearing objections occurs in the fall and winter of this year. There will surely be surprises and questions. We will be here to assist you as they come up.