A substantial number of Americans mistakenly believe that the adjectives, historic and historical, are interchangeable. They are not. Historic means "important in history," as in, "a historic flight to the moon." Historical means "occurring in history," as in "a historical novel."
Q:What is the correct designation of the honorific "Esq."? I have been told that one identifies only other lawyers as "Esq.," never oneself.
A:The reader who asked this question thought that it may have been asked before and he was right. Readers of all the journals for which I write columns have asked this and related questions from time to time, and my answers always evoke an avalanche of letters. Apparently this subject arouses considerable emotion among lawyers.
A large majority of lawyers do consider it bad form to add "Esq." to their signature in a letter or to refer to themselves as "Esq.". But it is appropriate to address a lawyer as "John Doe, Esq." Also appropriate, as the address in a letter, is "Attorney John Doe." But only one honorific, never both. Nor should "Esq." be used along with "Mr."
A related question, usually asked by women lawyers is, "Are women lawyers entitled to use the honorific "Esq."? A look at the etymology of that word provides the answer. When esquire entered English it had nothing to do with lawyers of either sex. It came from the Latin word scutarius (shield-bearer) and identified a commoner who hoped to attain the rank of "gentleman" by carrying the shield of an aristocrat. Eventually the title esquire ameliorated, coming to designate a commoner who had become a "gentleman" by his apprenticeship.
But when esquire crossed the ocean, Americans, who traditionally disdained social rankings, applied the honorific to occupation. In the 19th century esquire designated a justice of the peace or an associate judge. Still later, it expanded to include lawyers. And because all lawyers were male, esquire connoted male gender. Now that women are also lawyers, it seems illogical to deny them the right to use it.
That, essentially, was my response to the first questions about "Esq." It seemed to be non-controversial. I was wrong, and in the next issue, I'll include some of the fiery, fuming, and funny mail that arrived from readers.
POTPOURRI:
"It was wicked good!" Have you ever heard that comment by a teenager? When I first heard it, I was mystified, so I began some research to learn its meaning and the origin.
"Wicked good," it seems, is a new youth-term replacing and outdoing a previous favorite, "awesome." The adjective wicked (meaning "sinful") first came to my attention in an advertisement promoting a very rich and fattening double-chocolate cake mix, which was said to be "wickedly good." In teenage dialect, wicked seems to have lost its definition as sinful and has expanded so that it now means "extremely."
This etymological process, the tendency of words to expand or narrow and to strengthen or weaken, is typical of the English language. A classic illustration of expansion and weakening is very. In "The Canterbury Tales," Chaucer's Knight was described as "a verray, parfit gentil knight." Verray meant "true," describing a knight who was "true"to his principles. But during the years since Chaucer's time, "verray" has become very, an adverb so expanded and weakened that it is now only an "intensifier," strengthening the adjective it precedes.
In modern teenage dialect, "wicked" no longer retains its dictionary meaning of "depraved" or "malicious." It doesn't even connote "sinful," as in the cake-mix ad. "Wicked" has become an intensifier, only a little stronger than "very." So for those who fear that young people are ruining the English language, there's hope. Your teenage son does not realize it, but he is continuing in good English tradition.
Gertrude Block is Lecturer Emerita at the University of Florida College of Law. Her book ,"Legal Writing Advice: Questions and Answers" (William S. Hein & Co., Inc.) was published in December 2004. Ms. Block is also author of "Effective Legal Writing", 5th Edition (Foundation Press), with an accompanying instructor's manual. She is co-author of the "Judicial Opinion Writing Manual" (published by the American Bar Association, 1991). Send questions to the ISBA Bar News Language Tips, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Bar Center, Springfield, IL 62701, or e-mail her at block@law.ufl.edu.
Chicago attorney Robert A. Stein, executive director of the American Bar Association since 1994, has announced that he will retire in August 2006. A search committee will be appointed next month during the ABA annual meeting.
Appellate Lawyers
Robert M. Dow Jr. of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, Chicago, was installed June 3 as president of the Appellate Lawyers Association. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he took the oath of office from Chief Judge Joel M. Flaum of the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Asian American Bar
Rishi Agrawal of Eimer, Stahl, Klevorn & Solberg, Chicago, was installed June 8 as president of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago. Other officers are Vice President Maria Kuriakos Ciesil and Treasurer Anne I. Shaw. Call (312) 554-2081 for information about membership and events.
Black Women Lawyers
Lela D. Johnson, an assistant U.S. attorney, is the new president of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago. She was installed June 21, along with Vice President Angela Whiteside-Smith, Secretaries Nathalina A. Hudson and Stephanie A. Giggetts, and Treasurer Ashanta N. Evans-Blackwell.
Corporate Counsel
The Chicago chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel will hold a gala dinner Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Palmer House Hilton. Officers will be installed and awards will be presented. Call (815) 464-8336 for details.
Defense Trial Counsel
New officers of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel are President Glen Amundsen, President-elect Steven M. Puiszis, Vice Presidents Jeffrey S. Hebrank and Gregory L. Cochran, and Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hammond.
DuPage County Bar
The DuPage County Bar Association Law and Literature Committee will review Herman Wouk's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Caine Mutiny," at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 28, in room 2105 of the County Judicial Center, Wheaton. Call (630) 653-7779.
ECI Women Attorneys
Members of the East Central Illinois Women Attorneys Association will hold a retreat on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24, at the Eagle Creek Retreat Center, Shelbyville.
Government Bar
New officers of the Government Bar Association announced June 9 are President Keleigh Biggins of the Office of State Appellate Defender, Vice President Heidi Scott, Secretary Angela Fyans and Treasurer Barbara Rowe. Call Biggins at (217) 785-2283 for program details.
Hispanic Lawyers
Assistant Cook County state's attorney Mercedes Luque-Rosales was installed June 15 as the 10th president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois.
Illinois Paralegal
Member of the Illinois Paralegal Association will take a summer dinner cruise on Lake Michigan on Thursday, July 28. They will board The Bright Star near the Adams Street bridge at 5 p.m. and sail at 6 p.m. Call (815) 462-4620 for reservations.
Jewish Judges
Rabbi Baruch Hertz will speak to the Jewish Judges Association during a luncheon Tuesday, July 19, at the ISBA Chicago Regional Office. His topic is "Biblical Reflections: Finding Yourself in the Story of Genesis."
Cook County Judge Allen Goldberg will speak at the Tuesday, Aug. 16, lunch about his trip to Charleston and a search for his roots. Call Judge Sheldon Gardner, (312) 603-4866, for more information.
Justinian Society
The Justinian Society will hold its second annual scavenger hunt, a benefit for its Children's Endowment Fund, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, around the South Loop and Millennium Park. Members will register at 5:30 p.m. at Bar Louie, 47 W. Polk, and a buffet dinner will follow the hunt at 8 p.m.
To register or obtain information, call Katherine Amari or Dennis Beninato at (312) 255-8550, or Anita DeCarlo at (312) 661-0088. Charitable sponsorships are available.
Lake County Bar
The Young and New Lawyers Committee of the Lake County Bar Association will have a Night at Ravinia outing at 6 p.m. Friday, July 22, to hear a performance of "A Tribute to ABBA." Call (847) 244-3143.
Lake County Women
The Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County will meet Wednesday, Aug. 3, for luncheon and program at Potesta's Restaurant, Waukegan. Call President Marjorie Sher at (847) 249-2830.
The association also is planning a networking dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 14, with female members of the McHenry County bench and bar.
McLean County Bar
William A. Allison of Allison & Mosby-Scott, Bloomington, is the new president of the McLean County Bar Association. Call (309) 662-5084 for information.
Muslin Bar
Prof. Douglass W. Cassel Jr. of the Center for International Human Rights at the Northwestern University School of Law will speak Thursday, July 28, during the annual dinner of the Muslim Bar Association at the Hotel Allegro, Chicago. Call Isk Alsheik at (312) 498-2335 for reservations.
Nordic Law Club
Members of the Nordic Law Club will hold a summer solstice reception, with a spirits tasting and history lesson, on Thursday, Aug. 18, on the rooftop at 1147 W. Ohio Street, Chicago. Call Lynne Ostfeld, (312) 645-1066.
Pakastani American Bar
A new Pakastani American Bar Association was established June 27 in Chicago. Officers are President Pamela M. Leeming, Vice President M. Latif Rana, Secretary Malika T. Assar and Treasurer Zarah Latif.
West Suburban Bar
The West Suburban Bar Association will hold a Night at the Races at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 22, at Hawthorne Race Track in Stickney. The group will have a dinner buffet in a private room and betting advice from a handicapper. Call (708) 366-1122.
St. Louis attorney Dawn T. Christoffersen, an ISBA member and graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law, has been named chair of the Business Law Practice Group at Sandberg, Phoenix & von Gontard.
Christoffersen joined the firm in May to practice in wealth, estate and business succession planning. She has a master of laws degree in taxation from Washington University.
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Pascale J. Bishop has joined the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg as an associate in general commercial litigation and toxic torts. She was with McDermott, Will & Emery in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
John W. Morse, general legal advisor to the Chicago Real Estate Council, has joined the Business, Tax and Real Estate Department of Barnes & Thornburg, Chicago, in commercial real estate and lending. He was a partner in Sachnoff & Weaver.
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Kelly M. Plummer has joined Burroughs, Hepler, Broom, MacDonald & True, Edwardsville, as an associate in toxic tort defense litigation. In addition to her law degree, she has a master of science degree in psychology. Other new associates are Jason K. Woolery, Rachel D. Silger and Edna L. McLain.
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Stacey E. Lynch has joined the Dorris Law Firm in Bloomington to concentrate in personal injuries of a serious nature, with special interest in medical malpractice. She practiced previously in Chicago with Hilfman, Martin & Barr and LaRose & Bosco.
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Richard O. McDermott has been elected to partnership in the Chicago office of Lord, Bissell & Brook. His practiced is focused on insurance coverage and complex commercial litigation in defense of environmental and health claims and bad faith actions.
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Attorney Evan Kraus, a graduate of the Loyola University School of Law, has been appointed senior managing consultant for corporate clients of Mullin Consulting in Los Angeles. A former human resources consultant at Hewitt Associates, he also practiced with Stein, Ray & Conway in Chicago.
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Rosalie Selinger Murphy and Denise Grijnsztein have joined the trusts and estates practice of Rivkin & Rivkin, Lincolnshire. Murphy was a solo practitioner after practicing with Schiff, Hardin & Waite. Grijnsztein has been with Seyfarth Shaw and D'Ancona & Pflaum.
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Theodore R. Tetzlaff, a new partner in Ungaretti & Harris, Chicago, on July 1, will continue to serve as general counsel of Peoples Energy and head of its new intenal office of general counsel.
Recently appointed chair of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority board, Tetzlaff joined Peoples Energy in 2003. He was general counsel for Tenneco Inc. for seven years and a partner in Jenner & Block for more than 20 years.
Stephen H. Armstrong, former assistant general counsel at Peoples, has also joined Ungaretti & Harris as a partner in environmental practice. Theodore T. Eidukas, formerly with McGuireWoods, is a new associate in the firm's litigation practice.
Firm opens Rockford office
The Milwaukee firm of Reinhart, Boerner & Van Deuren has opened a Rockford office with four intellectual property attorneys as shareholders. They are Lawrence E. Crowe, Andrew J. Heinisch, Jeffery J. Makeever and Kevin L. Wingate, all formerly with Leydig, Voit & Mayer. Also joining the office as an associate is William H. Dietrich.
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Dykema Gossett has formed a strategic alliance with retired U.S. Rep. William Lipinski to expand its state and federal government policy services, particularly in transportation and infrastructure issues. The firm has Illinois offices in Chicago, Joliet and Lisle.
Lipinski was elected to 11 terms in Congress, from 1982 to 2004, and served on House subcommittees on railroads, aviation, and highways, transit and pipelines.