Unfamiliar Waters: Navigating Procedural Differences Between Federal & Illinois State Court
Kicking off 2026, join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for its first program of the year: Unfamiliar Waters: Navigating Procedural Differences Between Federal & Illinois State Court.
Many lawyers practice primarily in federal court or in the Illinois state courts but rarely in both. When duty requires a venture into unfamiliar territory, attorneys can feel their anxiety spike.
Even experienced attorneys may not know (or may have forgotten) how the written and unwritten practice rules and customs differ between the two forums. Worry no more!
Join the FBA Chicago Chapter for lunch as U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama and Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Jerry Esrig highlight and compare the major differences between federal and Illinois practice. Michael Rothstein of Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC will moderate this important and informative program.
This exclusive session will be hosted at Saul Ewing LLP (located in the Amenity Center).
Attendees can receive 1 CLE credit hour, pending approval. While the event itself is complimentary, your registration fee covers lunch, marketing, and administrative costs.
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About U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama (pictured center)
Judge Valderrama was sworn in as a U.S. District Judge in September 2020 to fill the seat of retiring former Chief Judge Ruben Castillo. Prior to his elevation to the federal bench, Judge Valderrama was an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County from 2007 to 2020. From 1989 until 2007, Judge Valderrama was in private practice at several firms in Chicago, where he focused his practice on civil litigation. Judge Valderrama is a former member of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee, a former member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Evidence, and is a frequent presenter and panelist on a variety of legal topics. Judge Valderrama is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law and has served as an adjunct professor at UIC John Marshall Law School, where he taught pre-trial civil litigation.
About Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Jerry Esrig (pictured left)
Judge Esrig has been a member of the bench of the Circuit Court of Cook County since 2013, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the 9th Subcircuit, and he has since been elected and retained. Before taking the bench, Judge Esrig was a founding partner of Zaideman & Esrig, PC, (later Epstein, Zaideman & Esrig PC) where for nearly 30 years his practice encompassed a wide variety of civil litigation ranging from complex personal injury to commercial disputes. Judge Esrig completed undergraduate studies at Northwestern University and is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School. Prior to attending law school, Judge Esrig was a congressional aide to the Hon. Abner J. Mikva.
About Michael I Rothstein (pictured right)
Michael Rothstein is a former President of the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and a partner at the firm of Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC, where he concentrates his practice in complex business litigation in federal and state courts. In addition to trial work, Mr. Rothstein is an accomplished appellate advocate, having represented clients before the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Mr. Rothstein is a past Vice-Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee and a past President of the Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association. A graduate of Boston University School of Law and Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, Mr. Rothstein is also a registered certified public accountant.
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