Smith, Gambrell & Russell’s Joel Bruckman Appointed to Illinois Judicial Conference Task Force on Remote Access by the Supreme Court of Illinois

CHICAGO, Illinois (February 10, 2026) - Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP ("SGR") is pleased to share that Partner Joel B. Bruckman has been appointed to the Illinois Judicial Conference Task Force on Remote Access by the Supreme Court of Illinois.

The Task Force on Remote Access has been created to develop a comprehensive work plan to provide valuable advice to the Illinois Judicial Conference on several key areas, including studying and reporting on the implementation of Supreme Court Rule 45 and related rules and policies, making recommendations to enhance access to legal services by promoting consistent remote appearance practices across the state of Illinois. In addition, the Task Force will recommend best practices for all courts regarding services that should be available remotely. This includes access to court records, the ability to look up court dates, and e-filing.

"We congratulate Joel on his appointment to this important task force," said Terrence J. Sheahan, Managing Partner of the Chicago Office. "His background in cybersecurity and prior government experience will allow him to offer valuable perspectives and help enhance access to legal services in Illinois."

"I am incredibly honored to be part of this pivotal initiative," said Bruckman. "Remote access to our courts is of paramount importance. Technology has become instrumental in bridging the access to justice gap, making the courts more accessible to everyone. We aim to provide valuable advice to the Illinois Judicial Conference on several key areas, and I look forward to the work ahead."

Mr. Bruckman's practice focuses on all aspects of data privacy and cybersecurity, with emphasis on regulatory and statutory compliance, insider threats and external bad actors. As a former member of the FBI's Cyber Crimes Task Force during his time as a prosecutor for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, he regularly advises clients on data security incident response strategies from initial discovery, triage and computer forensics investigations through statutory/regulatory notification assessment/obligations and subsequent government investigation and private-party litigation.

About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP is a full-service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The Firm's more than 400 professionals provide legal counsel in more than 50 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, insurance/reinsurance, construction, employment law, international, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, Smith Gambrell has 15 domestic and international offices, including Atlanta; Austin; Charlotte; Chicago; Houston; Jacksonville; London; Los Angeles; Miami; Milan; Munich; New York; Southampton; Tampa; and Washington, D.C.