Ill. workplace monitoring law: friend of Big Brother? Union says eavesdropping law allows bosses to listen in on private conversations. A privacy advocate has doubts

Article Abstract:

The American Civil Liberties Union and the AFL-CIO labor union group claim a new IL law on eavesdropping in the workplace permits listening in on private conversations, but not all privacy rights advocates agree. Robert Ellis Smith, an attorney and privacy expert, says the IL law duplicates federal law, leading others to contend it could be nullified on pre-emption grounds. The state AFL-CIO chapter filed suit against the state on Dec 15, and its request for a temporary restraining order was denied on Jan 2.

Laws, regulations and rules, Protection and preservation, Privacy, Right of, Right of privacy, Illinois, Electronic employee monitoring, Electronic surveillance

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Judicial crackups fracture the bench; outlandish behavior in and out of court suggests the pressure's become too great

Article Abstract:

Judges nationwide seem increasingly prone to stress resulting in bizarre incidents of injudicious behavior on and off the bench, though the problems are manifold and some hard to address. One survey shows complaints against federal judges jumping 24% in four years, while those against state judges in TX went up 47%, in NY, 24%; and in FL, 16%. Injudicious temperament is commonly cited. Experts blame social isolation of judges, media scrutiny and falling respect, greater caseloads, and more complex issues.

Judges, Behavior, states

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Case management reform ineffective; ADR, other reform-act fixes don't save time or money, CJRA study says

Article Abstract:

A study by the Rand Corp's Institute for Civil Justice that reforms required by the Civil Justice Reform Act (CJRA) have failed to have much effect in the federal courts. Even the use of alternative dispute resolution did not much effect cost, time and satisfaction with the judicial process. Many legal scholars have charged that the CJRA led to confusion by not giving details on its cost and delay reforms.

Management, Evaluation, Federal courts, Prevention, Surveys, Dispute resolution (Law), Court congestion and delay, Court delay, Institute for Civil Justice

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