CBA Record March-April 2026

THE CBA PULSE

BY BETH McMEEN, CBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The CBA brought local bar associations together to honor the storied legal career of Retiring Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis. Pictured from left: Natanya Pope-Sohel, Vice President of Black Women Lawyers’ Association; Judge Bridget C. Duignan, President of Illinois State Bar Association; Jocely Pacheco, President-Elect of Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois; Judge Joanne Rosado, President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association; Judge Nichole C. Patton, President of The Chicago Bar Association; Justice Mary Jane Theis (ret.); Illinois Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Tailor; Katie Twardak, President of Women’s Bar Association of Illinois; Judge Tom Donnelly, Board Member of Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago; Seth Horvath, President of the Appellate Lawyers Association of Illinois; Judge Lori Rosen, Vice President of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers; Antonio Lee, President of Cook County Bar Association; and Adam Zebelian, Past President of LAGBAC Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association.

Barristers Big Band Benefit Ball Featuring music, dancing, a silent auction, and libations, the Barristers Big Band Benefit Ball will take place Friday evening, April 25, at the Union League Club. The Barristers Big Band was founded in 2000 by CBA members who share a love of big band Jazz and want to keep the music of the big band era alive. Members come from every walk of the Chicago legal commu nity—big firm partners, solo practitioners, government lawyers, law students, and the judiciary. Reserve your tickets to the Ball at www.chicagobar.org/barristerball. Women’s History Month The CBA is pleased to celebrate 2026 Women’s History Month, which commemorates and encourages the study and celebration of the role of women in American history. Programming will include a special CLE program focused on how pageant partici pation can help lead to a successful career. Stay tuned for details at Learn.ChicagoBar.org. Ground-breaking AI Symposium Registration is now open for the CBA’s AI 2035 Symposium, a landmark three-day CLE program that will bring together 500+ legal professionals, technology innovators, judiciary members, and industry leaders to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the law. Taking place May 11-13, 2026, at Venue SIX10 in

downtown Chicago, this immersive experience will feature key note addresses from leading AI experts, interactive CLE sessions, live technology demonstrations, panel discussions on emerg ing ethical challenges, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration across practice areas. Attendees will gain practical insight into implementing AI tools in their practice, guidance in understanding regulatory developments, and will participate in shaping the future of the legal profession in an increasingly digital world. Early registration ends March 31 at Learn.ChicagoBar.org. Trial Superstars on Presenting Your Case Experienced trial lawyers, judicial voices, and jury experts are coming together on June 10 to provide practical strategies for persuading jurors, presenting evidence effectively, and winning high-stakes cases. Through real-world insights from the court room, appellate perspectives, and the Cook County State’s Attor ney, this program will focus on how to frame a case, connect with judges and juries, and deliver powerful advocacy from start to finish. The full-day program will take place at The Metropolitan Club. Early registration is now open at Learn.ChicagoBar.org. Vanguard Awards The CBA and 18 local bar associations will gather this spring to present the 2026 Vanguard Awards. This special award honors

18 March/April 2026