The admission of 2,244 new Illinois lawyers in five Supreme Court ceremonies on Nov. 9 brought the total state registration to an estimated 84,000.

The most admittees took the oath during the 1st District ceremony in Chicago's Arie Crown Theater. Justices Charles E. Freeman, Thomas R. Fitzgerald and Anne M. Burke presided over admission of 1,766 lawyers.

ISBA past president Robert K. Downs represented the state bar association on the stage, but the court limited spoken greetings to only two bar presidents: Deborah J. Fortier of the Cook County Bar Association and Holly A. Petrik of the Advocates Society.

The motion for admission was made by Chicago attorney John J. George, whose daughter, Mary Elizabeth George, was a member of the class.

Seconders were Joachim J. Brown, Terrence J. LeFevour, retired Cook County judge Benjamin E. Novoselsky and Lawrence J. Suffredin Jr.

At the 2nd District ceremony in the Hemmens Memorial Building, Elgin, Appellate Justice R. Peter Grometer presided, and ISBA President-elect Joseph G. Bisceglia welcomed the class of 223 members.

At the 3rd District ceremony in the Four Points Hotel, Rock Island, Justice Thomas L. Kilbride presided, and ISBA Third Vice President John G. O'Brien welcomed the class of 55 members.

At the 4th District ceremony in the Michael J. Howlett Building, Springfield, Justice Rita B. Garman presided, and ISBA Second Vice President Jack C. Carey welcomed the class of 78 members.

At the 5th District ceremony in the Southern Illinois University School of Law, Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided, and ISBA President Irene F. Bahr and SIU Law Dean Peter Alexander welcomed the class of 122 members.

The ISBA held receptions after the four downstate admissions.