Circuit shorts

The U.S. District Court for the Central District is considering the reappointment of Magistrate Judge John A. Gorman to an additional eight-year term when his current term expires on Feb. 17, 2008.

The duties of the position include: 1. Conduct of most preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; 2. Trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; 3. Conduct of various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from district court judges; 4. Trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants.

Written comments should be sent to Chief Judge Michael P. McCuskey at 318 U.S. Courthouse, 201 S. Vine St., Urbana 61802, no later than May 31.

All comments will be provided to a Merit Selection Panel of attorneys and private citizens from the Peoria and Rock Island Divisions for consideration and assessment of Magistrate Judge Gorman's performance.

The panel will then make its recommendation to the court regarding his reappointment.

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The nomination of Appellate Justice Frederick J. Kapala of Rockford for U.S. District Court was approved by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on March 13. The Senate will vote soon on his confirmation to succeed Judge Philip G. Reinhard, who is on senior status.

St. Charles attorney Susan Clancy Boles has been named an associate judge of the 16th Circuit. She was with the Clancy Law Office.

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Rockford attorney John H. Young of Reno & Zahm was installed April 3 as an associate judge in the 17th Circuit. He is a graduate of the Drake University Law School.

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Belleville attorney Michael N. Cook is a new associate judge in the 20th Circuit. A former assistant St. Clair County public defender, he practiced with Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin.

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The new 22nd Circuit in McHenry County has selected two associate judges: assistant state's attorney Robert K. Beaderstadt and Thomas A. Meyer of SmithAmundsen.

Chicago attorney Joel T. Daly, a retired television news anchor, is carrying out freedom of speech to a new degree. He has taken on the unpaid role of public information officer on call for the federal courts in Chicago.

The position previously paid $100,000 annually but there is no present budget for it, so Daly stepped in pro bono on March 12. He helps field questions about the Conrad Black trial, as needed, from journalists around the world. He has a parking space and an office in the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, but no paycheck.

Daly also is director of external affairs at The John Marshall Law School, where he teaches media law and trial advocacy. He is a member of the ISBA Committee on Cable Television Programming.

The Illinois Supreme Court has amended Rule 431 on Voir Dire Examination to effectively require a judge to question each potential juror on whether he or she understands and accepts the principles underlying the rights of a defendant to a fair trial.

The words, “If requested by the defendant,” were deleted on March 21 from the beginning of paragraph (b) of the rule, which lists the juror questions. The change will become effective May 1.