CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
CHICAGOLAWBULLETIN.COM
T H U R S D AY, APRIL 30, 2026 | PAGE 7
Improving civil justice in an adversary system
Democracy hinges on our duty to earn public trust Elizabeth M. Rochford President, Illinois Judges Association The American Dream endures because each generation chooses to guarantee it anew. That is our calling. And we accept it. dream, the promise that perseverance and opportunity can combine to produce a better life, is not self-executing. It requires infrastructure. And the most foundational element of that infras- tructure is the rule of law. The rule of law is a structural commitment: a guarantee that legal authority operates through transparent, stable and equally applied principles rather than through the discretion of the powerful. It is the bedrock upon which every person, regardless of wealth, background or status, can assert their rights and trust that institutions will respond with integrity. When it holds, the courthouse door is not merely open in theory. It is open in fact. The Chicago Bar Association works every day to keep it open. Through the Coalition of Chicagoland Bar As- sociations, an alliance of more than 20 bar groups, we defend judicial independence collectively. Through our Judicial Evaluation Committee, we equip voters with merit- based assessments of judicial candidates. Through the Chicago Bar Foundation, we extend legal assistance to those who might otherwise face the justice system alone. And through our AI 2035 Symposium this May, we are preparing the profession to defend the rule of law in the age of artificial intelligence. I have sat on the bench long enough to know that the rule of law is not maintained by its existence alone. It is maintained by people, lawyers who show up, judges who hold the line, bar associations that refuse to be silent.
R. Mark Cosimini President, Illinois Defense Counsel
For a closer look at the state of judicial safety, courthouse secu- rity and public trust in the legal system, check out the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s award-winning Justice Under Siege series, now available for free at lawyerport.com/ law-day . The series includes the perspectives of Illinois justices and judges, law school professors, as- sociation leaders, security experts and U.S. District Judge Joan H. Lefkow, who has lived through the
Donald Patrick Eckler Vice President, Illinois Defense Counsel
The Illinois Defense Counsel is committed to advocating for the interests of those that represent civil defendants because in absence of a fair civil justice system, there can be no justice for anyone.
There are two sides to the “v.” And both sides are entitled to fair rules and procedures. The Illinois Defense Counsel is committed to advocating for the interests of those that represent civil defendants because in absence of a fair civil justice system, there can be no justice for anyone. Everything that the IDC does is focused on our core value of “ensuring civil justice with integrity, civility, and professional competence.” With respect to working to improving the administration of justice for all, we have long advocated a change to 735 ILCS 5/2-1117 so that all potentially culpable parties are on the verdict form. We have also resisted efforts that prejudice the administration of justice, including opposing prejudgment interest, ef- forts to abolish the doctrine of intrastate forum non conveniens , and to instantiate six-person juries contrary to the guarantee of the Illinois Constitution. Those positions have often placed us at odds with the organized plaintiffs’ bar, but in the last year we have partnered with Illinois Trial Lawyers Association in ad- vocating change to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 and have filed joint amicus briefs with the plaintiffs’ bar in two cases before the Illinois courts of review. This is in addition to working with our usual adversaries to support to preserve the letter and spirit of Rule 5.4 of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct by forbidding the encroachment of non-lawyer interests in Illinois law firms. Our work both with and in opposition to those with whom we disagree is always aimed at improving civil justice as such advocacy is the heartland of the adversary system. A personal calling and one for each generation Nichole C. Patton President, Chicago Bar Association
tragic consequences of unchecked threats and violence against the judiciary.
Standing for order, accountability and fair ness Timothy J. Cavanagh President, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Our duty is not only to serve justice, but also to earn public trust. Our democracy depends on it.
The rule of law is increasingly under attack these days. Protecting it is essential because it provides order, accountability and fairness in our country.
These are fraught times for our beloved legal pro- fession. I shudder to learn of verbal and physical attacks on lawyers and judges, or to read headlines proclaiming the public’s withering confidence in our courts. The negative misconceptions are often the result of misunderstanding or lack of accurate information about the law and its processes. In response, the Illinois Judges Association is ad- vancing the “Build a Bridge from Courthouse to Com- munity” initiative and asking all members of our pro- fession to step out with us. The IJA has identified topics of significant public interest and developed talking points on matters such as, ethics rules for judges and attorneys, the Pretrial Fairness Act, the appeals process, artificial intelligence in courts, jury service, and SRL resources, to name a few. These engaging presentations are being delivered to community and civics groups across the state including local Rotary, League of Women Voters, public libraries, town halls, community centers or wherever neighbors gather. We are especially encouraging lawyers and judges to appear together. The broad scope of experience and perspective is more interesting and fun for both the speakers and the audience. There are no better liaisons, no more qualified people to carry our message to society, than the members of our Illinois bar and judiciary. Initiating an invitation to a judge in your hometown is as easy as visiting our website or by email at info@ija.org. Despite these challenging times, I am eternally op- timistic and enjoy a deep and enduring pride in the work we do every day. Our duty is not only to serve justice, but also to earn public trust. Our democracy depends on it. Stride with us into the community. Through transparency we will inevitably build confidence in the work of our courts and our profession. Together we will make a meaningful impact, one conversation at a time.
It is an honor to serve as the 72nd President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and to lead an organization devoted to protecting and advocating for the rights of victims. As a trial lawyer for nearly 40 years, I have seen firsthand how the civil justice system and the 7th Amend- ment ensure that justice is not reserved for the powerful, but accessible to everyone. This broad access to justice helps sustain the American Dream. The rule of law is increasingly under attack these days. Protecting it is essential because it provides order, ac- countability and fairness in our country. It allows injured individuals, workers and consumers to stand against cor- porations, insurers, health care providers and other powerful interests. Without access to courts and the right to a jury trial, these victims of negligence would be victimized twice. At ITLA, our more than 2,000 members are committed to maintaining the highest standards representing injured individuals and protecting civil rights. We promote high standards of ethics and advocacy through education and training, while working to ensure the fair and efficient administration of justice. At ITLA, we are committed to the civil justice system and the rule of law. As lawyers we are the guardians of the civil justice system. But we can always do more by expanding civic education, encouraging engagement and reinforcing public trust in our courts. As president of ITLA, I am committed to upholding the rule of law as a cornerstone of American exceptionalism and ensuring justice remains within reach for all.
The rule of law is a structural commitment: a guarantee that legal authority operates through transparent, stable and equally applied principles rather than through the discretion of the powerful.
I did not come to the law by accident. I came to it by calling. That conviction has shaped every chapter of my career, as an assistant state’s attorney, as an advocate in private practice and now as a judge in Cook County’s Law Division. It also shapes how I understand the American Dream. That
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