Judges, just like the attorneys who practice in their courtrooms, benefit greatly from feedback on how well they’re performing in their jobs. While attorneys typically work closely with their peers, and likely undergo regular performance reviews in their law firms, this process is more difficult for judges.

The ISBA offices will be closed for the holidays from Friday, December 22, through Monday, January 1. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 2. During this time, E-Clips and other digital newsletters will not be delivered. All business and e-newsletter distribution will resume as usual on January 2, 2024.

Enjoy a fun array of photos from the 2023 Joint Midyear Meeting on Dec. 7-8, 2023, at the JW Marriott Chicago. 

 In his third of five installments on trial technique in the Illinois Bar Journal’s December issue, Gino DiVito dissects the essential tactics of a successful direct examination. “Except possibly for adverse-witness testimony, direct examination should simulate a friendly conversation,” DiVito writes. “After introductory information based on ‘who’ the witness is and ‘when’ and ‘where’ events occurred, witness questioning shifts to an open-ended question such as ‘what happened?’” One of DiVito’s main takeaways is that proper direct examinations require relevant questions resulting in answers that create reality.