CBA Record Nov-Dec 2019

Court – lawyers in private practice who were not judges heard all of the testimony in a case in their law offices and then made a written recommendation to the Chancellor. Within days after a case was referred to a particular Master, each side often just happened to hire as co-counsel the Master’s political sponsor, good friend, cousin, or whatever. What a system! Good government people worked for decades to try to abolish it. Those who had learned to use it to their advantage adamantly opposed any change. That had to start with an amendment to the 1870 Constitution. But the framers of the 1870 Constitution had made it almost impossible to amend. So, the good govern- ment folks devised a two-step attack. First, they got the constitutional provision on amendments amended (referred to as the Gateway Amendment) to make it easier to amend the 1870 Constitution. Then, they sprang their real goal: the judicial article amendment to get rid of the mess and give us the unified court system. Bless them.

MAKE A CHILD’S HOLIDAY A LITTLE BRIGHTER... Fulfill a Wish through the Dear Santa Letter Program Help a child enjoy the holidays...answer a Dear Santa Letter! This holiday season, the Young Lawyers Section is distributing “Dear Santa” letters provided by Direct Effect Charities, a group that receives thousands of letters fromdisadvantaged youth fromChicago Public Schools requesting gifts fromSanta. Here’s how it works: select a letter, purchase a few items the child has requested (approx. $25 or less), and mail the package directly to the child’s school. Letters will be available to be picked up at the CBA inmid-November (stop by our 1st floor bookstore). If youwould like to distribute letters at your firm in bulk (10+ letters) fill out the form at www.chicagobar.org/yls (under Events). Complete instructions will be attached to the letter. Questions? Email yls@chicagobar.org or call 312-554-2031.

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