129th Annual Meeting provides new experience
The 129th Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Bar Association next month in Fontana, Wis., will be unlike most others in recent memory.
This will be the first major event at The Abbey on Lake Geneva since a $40 million renovation that is being hailed around the popular resort community as nothing short of miraculous.
Procedurally, the yearly convention of Illinois lawyers from June 16 to 18 will not differ much from previous years, but the facilities for business meetings, special events, children's activities and casual dining reflect a renaissance.
The Annual Meeting highlights and schedule are published on pages 18 and 19 of this issue of the ISBA Bar News, along with registration details.
One noticeable change is that only three Law Ed Series seminars will be offered, and all will take place on Friday. Summaries of the seminars may be found on page 5.
Throughout the three-day meeting, section councils and committees will conduct organizational business sessions, and ISBA-affiliated exhibitors will be present to explain their products and services.
Among them are the ISBA Mutual Insurance Co., Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund and ATG Trust Co., LexisNexis, Legal Dox, Global Holidays, Marsh Affinity Group Services, and Academic Tours. Also on hand to provide information are the Fellows of the Illinois Bar Foundation and the Lawyers' Assistance Program.
Collegial and social opportunities begin with the opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Another reception, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, includes organized games for children on the Abbey lawn, courtesy of ISBA Mutual. The University of Illinois College of Law will hold an alumni reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday.
The Committee on Law Office Economics and Management and Committee on Legal Technology will team up for a breakfast symposium from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday. The best ways to conduct an efficient law practice will be explored in a stimulating roundtable format.
A highlight of Friday events is the annual awards luncheon. Board of Governors Awards, the General Practice Tradition of Excellence Award, publication honors, Young Lawyer of the Year and Law Student Public Service Awards will be presented.
Saturday will begin at 8 a.m. with the 10th annual networking breakfast sponsored by the Committee on Minority and Women Participation, the Committee on Women and the Law, and the Southern Illinois University School of Law.
The semi-annual meeting of the 201-member ISBA Assembly will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, and an open luncheon will follow. Chicago attorney Robert K. Downs will be installed as ISBA president after the 6:30 p.m. reception and 7:30 p.m. dinner that evening.
Children's activities include an ISBA-sponsored day camp for ages 4 to 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. While the installation dinner is in progress, supervised hospitality rooms for children and teenagers will offer food and entertainment from 6 to 10:30 p.m.
By Stephen Anderson
Although the Illinois attorney population continues to grow steadily, the rate of increase has slowed, according to the annual report of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
The report, which was released April 29, showed 78,101 registered attorneys on Oct. 31, 2004 (1.85 percent more than a year earlier), and the addition of 1,976 admittees in November ceremonies may have pushed the master roll over the 80,000 mark.
The number of attorneys over age 50 has increased more than eight percent during the past decade, 58 percent are between 30 and 49 years old, and 71 percent have been licensed more than 10 years. Nearly one-third are women.
While 2,844 attorneys were admitted during the fiscal year, the growth rate felt the impact of 1,256 being removed from the master roll because of retirements, deaths, discipline or failure to register.
Of the grand total, only 59,827 attorneys reported business addresses in Illinois, while 18,274 did not practice in the state. Among them, 8,003 are on inactive status, 1,815 are judges or judicial employees, and 213 are on military duty.
More than 70 percent of practicing attorneys a 1.4 percent increase to 41,796 are officed in Cook County. Other large county complements are in DuPage (3,983), Lake (2,675), Sangamon (1,096), and Kane (1,035).
By judicial district, the totals are: 2nd District 9,573; 3rd District 2,893; 4th District 3,120; 5th District 2,445. Counties showing the largest percentage increases are Will (9.2%), LaSalle (7.7%), Madison (7.5%) and Rock Island (4.1%).
The ARDC last year docketed 6,070 investigations involving 4,112 attorneys, about five percent of those registered. Although complaints were down from 6,325 the previous year, the number of sanctions by the Supreme Court hit a record high of 149. There were 137 in 2003 and 126 in 2002.
The sanctions included 35 disbarments, 74 suspensions, 13 censures and 23 probations. Another eight attorneys were suspended on an interim or emergency basis until further order.
The ARDC reported that 69 percent of complaints filed against attorneys alleged either neglect or failure to communicate.
New dues plan has automatic payment options
ISBA members have been offered convenient and affordable ways to pay dues beginning with the July 1 membership year. Dues statements for this period were mailed recently, along with a brochure, "Membership Made Easy," that details how the plan works and includes a sign-up form.
Membership Made Easy permits automatic charges to major credit cards (now including American Express) or automatic withdrawal from bank checking or savings accounts. Plus, members may choose from automatic annual, semi-annual or quarterly charges or debits.
This new dues payment plan ensures that all the benefits of membership continue to be delivered without interruption and without the hassle of responding to dues statements. It also allows dues and fees to be divided into affordable increments.
If members change their minds, it takes just a quick phone call (or letter) to ISBA to undo or adjust automatic debits.
Near the beginning of each membership year (July 1), ISBA will contact members by mail regarding their current dues rates. This will also serve as an opportunity for members to review and make changes to the plan options they have selected.
Additional copies of the brochure and more information are available from Ann at 800-252-8908 or aboucher@isba.org.
Flora officer battles rural drug problem
Officer John Nicholson of the Flora Police Department, who is assigned as an inspector with the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force, received an ISBA Law Enforcement Award during a ceremony April 29.
Nicholson was nominated by Clay County State's Attorney Lisa A. Wade, recommended by the ISBA Committee on Public Relations and designated by the Board of Governors on April 8.
Law Enforcement Awards are presented each year to recognize the bond shared by the bar, bench and law enforcement community in achieving the goal of serving the public and ensuring justice fairly and impartially.
Emphasis is placed on conduct that promotes justice and distinguishes officers whose public service brings honor and respect to the criminal justice system.
John Nicholson was cited for action on the front lines of a battle against production and use of methamphetamine. This has become a crisis for his poor, rural community, where the number of felony offenses has doubled during the past year.
In addition to his work with the Drug Task Force, Nicholson is an active participant in the grassroots Clay County Anti-Methamphetamine Coalition, which strives to prevent and reduce the impact of use and production of the drug.
He also speaks frequently to community groups, describing signals that may indicate possible production and encouraging the audience to report suspicious activity. He explains the logistics of making arrests.
Nicholson counsels methamphetamine users with whom he makes contact, urging them to get into drug rehabilitation programs to overcome their addictions.
"In addition to traditional law enforcement activities designed to arrest and promote the prosecution of individuals who are using or manufacturing methamphetamine, John has worked outside his role in law enforcement to teach the community about (it)," Wade said in her nomination letter.
He "is a credit to our community and an outstanding role model," she added. Nicholson's efforts "can only enhance the image of law enforcement within the community."
McDonnell earns general practice honor
By Stephen Anderson
When Joseph B. McDonnell walked into a Swansea Rotary Club meeting after being absent on trial for several weeks, his fellow Rotarians gave him a standing ovation.
"Such is the respect and love our community has for a most noble citizen, a treasure to our profession and our community," said Richard O. Erdmann, who nominated McDonnell for the annual ISBA General Practice Tradition of Excellence Award.
A partner in Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, McDonnell will receive the honor during the ISBA Annual Meeting awards luncheon Friday, June 17, at The Abbey on Lake Geneva.
A 1960 graduate of the St. Louis University School of Law, the recipient was an assistant St. Clair County state's attorney for eight years and later ran a solo practice and was a partner in Churchill, McDonnell & Hatch in Belleville before joining the Greensfelder firm.
A past chair and member of the ISBA Committee on Professional Conduct, McDonnell has drafted more than 20 advisory ethics opinions. A member of the Committees on Amicus of both the ISBA and Appellate Lawyers Association, he has served on the ISBA Assembly and the Joint Committee on Ethics 2000.
He has written several articles for the Illinois Bar Journal and Illinois Defense Quarterly, and has lectured frequently at bar association seminars and business conferences.
Professionally, McDonnell is a neutral arbitrator, a member of the St. Clair County mandatory arbitration program and a certified Missouri court arbitrator. He is on call as counsel to the Illinois Board of Admissions in contested applications.
He is a Silver Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation and a past president of the St. Clair County Bar Association. He is president-elect of the Swansea Rotary Club, chair of its public relations committee and publisher of its monthly bulletin.
McDonnell's community activities include serving on the board of Catholic Social Services and, until recently, the advisory board of the Salvation Army and chair of its public relations committee.
Active in the Rotary Club Literacy Project, he reads to kindergartners at two schools, and he is a volunteer for the Radio Information Service at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, reading newspapers for blind listeners. He's a church lector and song leader, too.
Erdmann's nomination letter cited McDonnell's "outstanding contributions to our profession, including his extensive writing and lecturing in fields of great interest to general practice lawyers (and) dedication to promoting high ethical standards..."
He referred to McDonnell as "a tireless and selfless gentleman who serves others above himself. He enjoys the respect and admiration of every lawyer and non-lawyer who has been privileged to know him and work with him."
The ISBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section will recognize those attributes and achievements next month with presentation of its highest honor to Joseph McDonnell.
Four Laureates among 50-year members
A distinguished list of 139 ISBA Senior Counsellors, which includes four Laureates of the Academy of Illinois Lawyers and one past president, was approved April 8 by the ISBA Board of Governors. A date has not been set for an event to honor these ISBA members for 50 years of service in good standing.
Richard L. Thies of Urbana, who was state bar president in 1986-87, is among the honorees. Laureates on the list are James J. Ahern of Skokie, and Joseph N. DuCanto, Ronald S. Miller and Jerold S. Solovy of Chicago.
Also included are Justice Alan J. Greiman, chair of the 1st District executive committee, and retired federal judges Louis B. Garippo of Chicago and Stanley J. Roszkowski of Rockford.
Others are Harry C. Armstrong, Kenneth P. Arnesen, Marshall J. Auerbach, Carl H. Becker, Edward Benecki, Marvin D. Berman, James B. Bleyer, Keith F. Bode, Henry L. Brinks, John C. Bulger, Lowell G. Burger, Marshall L. Burman;
Stanley M. Cahn, John W. Chaveriat, Angelo A. Ciambrone, Gary R. Coffey, James L. Coghlan, Louis J. Cohn, George B. Collins, William W. Crawford, Richard D. Cudahy, Walter D. Cummings, Stella A. Cuthbert;
James P. Daley, J. Frank Daly, Raymond T. Denten, Theodore E. Desch, William Diamant, Sherman Dickholtz, Benjamin C. Duster, Donald M. Ephraim, C. V. Falkenberg Jr., Jerome Feldman, Leo Feldman;
William R. Galliani, Howard D. Galper, Lawrence E. Glick, Sol L. Goldstein, Alice Gould, Robert M. Gunn, James Hanrahan Jr., Thomas Harrington, Elmer C. Hawkins, C. E. Heiligenstein, John W. Hoefert, Burton L. Hoffman, Philip E. Howard;
Wayne R. Johnson, Henry J. Jostock, Edward J. Kahn, Earle S. Karno, Sheldon Karon, Constantine D. Kasson, Richard C. Kavanagh, Eugene R. Kerr, William R. Ketcham, Ernest S. Kettelson, Algimantas Kezelis, John E. Kirkpatrick, Thomas R. Krone;
Robert W. Lahtinen, Jerome S. Lamet, Paul H. LaRue, John W. Leskera, David J. Lester, Howard H. Levin, S. Jerome Levy, Mark R. Lidschin, Harold Lipschultz, Donald Lonchar Jr., John I. Lundmark, John B. Lungmus;
Edward Matus, Larry S. Mayster, David N. McBride, R. L. McLaughlin, John W. McNulty, Harold L. Miller, Russell G. Miller, Donald T. Morrison, Thomas H. Morsch, Roy R. Moscato, Anton Motz, Charles J. Myler;
Clarence T. Naborowski, Walter G. Nelson, Gilbert L. Niznik, Robert J. Nye, Roy A. Olson, Peter J. Paolucci, James Pappas, Donald J. Parker, Howard M. Peltz, Gerald M. Petacque, Richard L. Pollay, Jane H. Pratt, Richard S. Ratcliff, Bernard P. Reese Jr., Adrien L. Ringuette, Robert H. Roberts, Thomas F. Roche, Jack W. Rosen, Ira E. Rubin;
Gerald B. Saltzberg, Henry T. Sanders, Richard S. Sawislak, Ralph G. Scheu, Lajos Schmidt, Theodore N. Schnell Jr., Glenn A. Schwartz, Gunter F. Sedlmayer, Edwin H. Shanberg, William O. Shank, Frank A.