Live Webcast

Friday, April 1, 2022, 1:25 – 4:05 PM.

Click here for link to register.

Presented by the ISBA Administrative Law Section. Co-sponsored by the ISBA Local Government Law Section, Illinois Association of Administrative Law Judges, and the Illinois Bureau of Administrative Hearings.

2.50 hours MCLE credit, including 0.50* hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics

Join us from the comfort of your home or office for this in-depth look at the central panel adjudication model which is designed to ensure that administrative law judges are employed separately from the agencies that they serve in an effort to provide fair and unbiased judicial decisions. Administrative law attorneys, government lawyers, and judges who attend this online seminar will better understand:

• What central panels are, as well as their benefits and downfalls;
• The categories of issues adjudicated in a central panel;
• The training that the City of Chicago hearing officers must undergo;
• How (and why) the Cook County Department of Administrative Hearings was created;
• How Illinois’ newest central panel was created by the Governor’s Executive Order 2017-04;
• How you can participate through subcommittee work;
• What the American Bar Association is doing to encourage Congress to establish a federal central panel; and
• Much more.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Christopher B. Cohen, Cohen Law Firm, P.C., Glencoe

1:25 – 1:30 PM Welcome and Introductions
Barbara J. Bell, BJ Bell Law LLC, Libertyville

1:30 – 2:00 PM What Are Central Panels?*
Gain a better understanding of what central panels are, the history behind the movement, and the pros, cons, and benefits of them with this informative opening segment.
Malcom Rich, Chicago Appleseed, Chicago

2:00 – 3:45 PM Panel Presentations

• Illinois’ Oldest Central Panel –  Hon. Patricia Jackowiak, City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings, Chicago
• The History and Creation of the Cook County Department of Administrative Hearings –  Marc M. Hamilton, Director, Cook County Administrative Hearings, Chicago
• Illinois’ Newest Central Panel –  Katy Straub, Deputy Director, CMS Bureau of Administrative Hearings, Chicago
• The Federal Central Panel Movement and the Lessons Learned –  John Allen, Grant Law LLC, Chicago

3:45 – 4:00 PM National Trends and Summary
Don’t miss this closing segment as we explore the recommended decision vs. final decision authority and how to obtain access to the administrative courts (including by self-represented litigants). A discussion on how competency and implicit bias training is being implemented is also included.
Malcom Rich, Chicago Appleseed, Chicago

4:00 – 4:05 PM Closing Remarks/Wrap Up
Barbara J. Bell, BJ Bell Law LLC, Libertyville