@thebar

In this edition, guest host Trisha Rich and co-host Jennifer Byrne are joined by public relations and legal marketing expert Debra Pickett of Page 2 Communications for a discussion about how lawyers can shift their mindset from lawyer to entrepreneur and embrace the art of shameless self-promotion to build their book of business. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

Rob Bilott, the renowned attorney leading the fight against the spread of deadly “forever chemicals,” the author of acclaimed memoir “Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer's Twenty-Year Battle Against DuPont,” and the subject of the 2019 legal thriller “Dark Waters,” sits down with host Jonathan Amarilio to discuss his struggle on behalf of tens of thousands of poisoned Ohio and West Virginia residents and his ongoing efforts to stop the use of toxins that have contaminated nearly all of humanity. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

In this edition, host Trisha Rich and co-host Bob Glaves are joined by the new Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Emanuel "Chris" Welch, who was elected on January 13, 2021, and became the first Black lawmaker to hold the position. He shares the inside story of the whirlwind process of being elected and stepping into the role famously held by Mike Madigan since 1983. He also previews his goals and plans for the State of Illinois, including his efforts to reach across the aisle and restore a greater sense of civility to the political discourse in Illinois. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

In 1968, anti-war and anti-establishment groups converged in the City of Chicago to protest U.S. participation in the Vietnam War at the Democratic National Convention. The protests eventually turned violent as Chicago police clashed with protestors in the streets, creating some of the most indelible images of the era. The political activists, who infamously became known as “The Chicago 7,” were arrested and later tried in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on charges of criminal conspiracy and incitement to riot. In this 3-part series, CBA’s @theBar shares insights into The Trial of the Chicago 7 through rare interviews with the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case and the last living member of The Chicago 7. Part 3 of @theBar’s three-part series on The Trial of the Chicago 7. In this episode, host Jonathan Amarilio and co-host Jennifer Byrne continue the conversation about the landmark trial with John Froines, one of the last two living members of the Chicago 7.

In 1968, anti-war and anti-establishment groups converged in the City of Chicago to protest U.S. participation in the Vietnam War at the Democratic National Convention. The protests eventually turned violent as Chicago police clashed with protestors in the streets, creating some of the most indelible images of the era. The political activists, who infamously became known as “The Chicago 7,” were arrested and later tried in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on charges of criminal conspiracy and incitement to riot. In this 3-part series, CBA’s @theBar shares insights into The Trial of the Chicago 7 through rare interviews with the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case and the last living member of The Chicago 7. Part 2 of @theBar’s three-part series on The Trial of the Chicago 7. In this episode, host Jonathan Amarilio continues his conversation about the landmark trial with Dick Schultz who represented the United States Government in the prosecution of the Chicago 7. Special t

In 1968, anti-war and anti-establishment groups converged in the City of Chicago to protest U.S. participation in the Vietnam War at the Democratic National Convention. The protests eventually turned violent as Chicago police clashed with protestors in the streets, creating some of the most indelible images of the era. The political activists, who infamously became known as “The Chicago 7,” were arrested and later tried in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on charges of criminal conspiracy and incitement to riot. In this 3-part series, CBA’s @theBar shares insights into The Trial of the Chicago 7 through rare interviews with the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case and the last living member of The Chicago 7. Part 1 of @theBar’s three-part series on The Trial of the Chicago 7. In this episode, host Jonathan Amarilio discusses the landmark trial with Dick Schultz who represented the United States Government in the prosecution of the Chicago 7. Special thanks to our sponsors, 

In this edition, host Jonathan Amarilio and co-host Trisha Rich are joined by J. Erik Connolly to discuss the $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit he recently brought against Fox News, Rudy Giuliani, Sydney Powell and others, on behalf of his client, Smartmatic, an election technology company. They talk about the disinformation spread by the defendants in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, the lawsuit brought to end that disinformation campaign, the role defamation lawsuits have in holding to account purveyors of disinformation, and more. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

As we put together our next episode, we wanted to give you a taste of what's to come -- The trial of the Chicago 7 was was a singular moment in American legal history. Then called “the trial of the century,” the case set the United States government against the counter-culture and anti-war movement of the 1960s. More than 50 years later, we sit down with one of the last surviving members of the Chicago 7 and the man who prosecuted them to hear the real story behind the case.

In this special 2020 election edition of @theBar, host Jonathan Amarilio and co-host Chastidy Burns are joined by John Cusick, Litigation Fellow at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), for a discussion about the current state of voting rights, in the courts and at the polls, since the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder eliminated the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

EXCLUSIVE: In their first long-format interview discussing the George Floyd case, Benjamin Crump and Antonio Romanucci, the attorneys representing Floyd’s estate, speak with host Jonathan Amarilio and co-host Martin Gould about the fateful events of May 25, 2020, and the civil rights lawsuit brought against the City of Minneapolis and the police officers accused of wrongfully taking Floyd’s life. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin recently joined the CBA to discuss the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, the first-ever comprehensive federal legislative effort to hold police accountable for misdeeds, change negative aspects of the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. In this edition, co-hosts Jonathan Amarilio and Chastidy Burns break down a recent discussion with Senator Durbin about the Act, its core goals, and how the Act seeks to achieve meaningful policing reform. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

In the third of our series relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, host Jonathan Amarilio and co-host Jack Sanker are joined by Professor Ann Lousin to discuss whether those protesting the constitutionality of Illinois’ stay-at-home order have a case. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

In the second of our series of COVID-19 related podcasts, our hosts Jonathan Amarilio and Chastidy Burns speak with Amy Campanelli, the Public Defender of Cook County, about the constitutional issues being raised and the impact on the rights of the accused as criminal courts adapt to the logistical challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

In the first of our series of COVID-19 related podcasts, our hosts Jonathan Amarilio and Jennifer Byrne speak with J.W. Freiberg, social psychologist, lawyer, and author of the forthcoming book, “Surrounded by Others and Yet So Alone: A Lawyer’s Case Stories of Love, Loneliness, and Litigation,” about the chronic loneliness problem in our society and how we can overcome it—an issue that has become prescient as we cope with isolation, social distancing and quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

A record number of women are now serving in Congress thanks to the “pink wave” of 2018, but women are still underrepresented in American politics. Why is that and what can we do to level the playing field? In this edition, co-hosts Jonathan Amarilio and Alexis Crawford Douglas are joined by Kate Black, a political advisor and former chief of staff of EMILY’S List, to discuss REPRESENT: The Woman’s Guide to Running for Office & Changing the World—her recent collaboration with actress and comedian, June Diane Raphael. The book aims to eliminate barriers that may stop women from running for office by demystifying the process and providing an accessible step-by-step guide that any person can follow. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally aired on February 6, 2019. American serial killer and rapist, John Wayne Gacy, Jr., became notorious for the mass murder of at least 33 teenage boys and young men in the late 1970s. December 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the mass grave beneath his home, which shocked the American public and shattered the image of the safe suburban community. This episode provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the crimes and prosecution of the man dubbed the “The Killer Clown” by William “Bill” Kunkle, the lead prosecutor who took him on and sent him to his eventual execution. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

@theBar recently took its show on the road for a live audience taping at Revolution Brewing, where we spoke with Revolution’s owner and founder, Josh Deth. In this unique edition, enjoy the live-audience experience as Josh talks with co-hosts Jonathan Amarilio and Trisha Rich about his journey from brewing beer in his garage to founding one of the most successful independent breweries in the United States. They also discuss what Josh learned along the way about beer, entrepreneurship, the law, and staying true to his roots. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

On May 20, 1988, Laurie Dann, a babysitter with a history of disturbing behavior and deteriorating psychological health, shot 6 children in a second-grade classroom in Winnetka, Illinois, killing one and severely wounding the others. The hostage situation and police stand-off that followed ended with Dann taking her own life. At the time, before school shootings were common, the incident rocked the country and dominated the news cycle for weeks. But what seemed unthinkable in 1988 has become tragically commonplace today—a school shooting now occurs every single week in America. In this edition, co-hosts Jonathan Amarilio and Jennifer Byrne are joined by Chicago Tribune journalist Eric Zorn for a look back on Dann’s life, tragic crimes, and legacy. They discuss what’s changed, what hasn’t changed, and what we can learn from the Dann case that could help us stop the violence and restore peace in our schools. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

In this edition, co-hosts Jonathan Amarilio and Nykoel Kahn are joined by renowned death penalty defense lawyer, author, speaker, professor and former Dean of the Valparaiso University Law School, Andrea Lyon, for a discussion about the politics, sociology and personal stories behind the death penalty in America. Dubbed “The Angel of Death Row” by the Chicago Tribune, Andrea was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case, and today holds an unparalleled 19 wins against the application of the death penalty in 19 capital cases. Andrea shares her experiences and candidly discusses the challenges of a career spent advocating for justice for those on death row, and why to this day, she remains steadfast in her belief in the power of redemption. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

Lawyers tend to bury themselves in work and focus solely on getting through the day. The result is that lawyers all too often ignore their own well-being and carry a sense of ambivalence about the legal profession’s problems with mental health and wellness. In recognition of World Mental Health day, host Jonathan Amarilio is joined by special guest host Stephanie Villinski of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, along with guests Dr. Diana Uchiyama, Executive Director of Illinois’ Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) and Chicago-based lawyer and wellness expert, Jonathan Beitner. The group has a candid discussion about lawyer mental health and addiction, as well as ways the legal profession can collectively cultivate a greater sense of wellness so that all lawyers can be as happy and successful as possible. Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.