CBA Record July-August 2025

PRESIDENT’S PAGE BY JUDGE NICHOLE C. PATTON One Leader. Two Institutions. A Unified Vision Bringing Visionary Leadership to The Chicago Bar Association and Perspective from the Circuit Court

The Chicago Bar Association www.chicagobar.org President Judge Nichole C. Patton First Vice President Trisha M. Rich Second Vice President Kathryn C. Liss Secretary Andrew W. Vail Treasurer Jonathan B. Amarilio Immediate Past President John C. Sciaccotta Executive Director Beth McMeen BOARD OF MANAGERS John C. Ellis Kevin Gerow Martin D. Gould Judge Kenya A. Jenkins-Wright Michael S. Kozlowski Francine D. Lynch Sari W. Montgomery Judge Thomas A. Morrissey Ryan M. Nolan Brandon E. Peck Justice Rena Marie Van Tine Judge Andrea R. Wood Daniel J. Berkowitz James V. Campell Elizabeth Carpenter Steven R. Decker Nishá N. Dotson

but what we can become—together. My presidency will focus on three core pillars: innovation, inclusion, and integrity . These are not just values. They are action points for a new era of leadership.

Innovation: Preparing for the Future of Law

We stand at the forefront of a techno logical revolution, and the legal profession cannot afford to lag. Artificial intelligence is already transforming how we litigate, conduct discovery, perform research, and interact with clients. These changes are no longer theoretical. They are real, they are rapid, and they are here. To meet this moment, I am proud to launch our signature initiative: AI 2035: The Legal Profession and the Judiciary in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. This initia tive will bring together 10 interdisciplinary committees—each co-chaired by a judge and an attorney—to examine AI’s impact on billing practices, access to justice, judi cial reasoning, corporate client demands, and more. Their work will culminate in a three-day symposium in May 2026. This effort will position the CBA as a national thought leader on AI and the law. Innovation also means evolving in how we serve our members. We will modern ize programming, expand hybrid offerings, and create even more opportunities for col laboration between the bar and the bench. Innovation is not just about tools. It’s about mindset, and we are ready to embrace it.

I t is the honor of a lifetime to serve as President of The Chicago Bar Associa tion. As I begin this bar year, I am filled with a profound sense of purpose—not just because of the office I hold, but because of the moment we are in. The legal profes sion is evolving. Our courts are facing new challenges. And our members—whether new attorneys, seasoned practitioners, or members of the judiciary—are asking what the future of law will look like and whether our institutions are prepared to meet that future with strength and clarity. Let me assure you: we are not only pre pared, we are ready to lead. This year, I bring to the CBA both the lens of a bar leader and the perspective of a sitting judge. It’s a dual vantage point that allows me to see not just what we are,

6 July/August 2025