Young writers, ‘old' editors to be honored

An article by Roman J. Seckel of Drendel & Drendel, Batavia, has been judged the first place winner in the 2007 ISBA Lincoln Award Legal Writing Contest. He will receive $2,000 and a plaque, which will be presented on Friday, June 22, during the ISBA Annual Meeting.

Seckel's article, “Standing for Non-parents Seeking Custody or Guardianship of Minors in Light of In re: R.L.S.” will be published in the February issue of the Illinois Bar Journal.

Other Lincoln Award recipients are Andrew N. Harris, a law clerk in the Cook County Circuit Court, and Robert Thomas Shumaker, a law clerk in the 4th Appellate District, Lincoln.

Harris will receive the second place prize of $1,000 for his article, “The Impact of Melena v. Anheuser-Busch on Manditory Arbitration Agreements.”

Shumaker's article, “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Intrastate Forum Non Conveniens in Wake of Langehorst v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co.” earned the third place prize of $500.

The 20 submitted manuscripts were reviewed by Appellate Justice William E. Holdridge of Peoria, Judge Barbara L. Crowder of Edwardsville, Dean Peter C. Alexander of the Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, and assistant Cook County public defender Evelyn G. Baniewicz of Chicago.

 

Editors earn awards

The ISBA will honor 11 experienced newsletter editors during the Annual Meeting in June for publishing at least four issues annually during specified periods of years.

Three will receive 15-year awards: Theodore R. LeBlang of Springfield, Health Care Law Section; Thomas P. Sandquist of Rockford, Commercial, Banking and Bankruptcy Law Section; Jeffrey M. Simon of Chicago, Committee on Law Office Management and Economics.

Four will received 10-year awards: Michael J. Chmiel of Woodstock, Com-mercial, Banking and Bankruptcy Law Section; Mary Ann Connelly of Chicago, State and Local Taxation Section; Daniel Kegan of Chicago, Intellectual Property Section; Lawrence J. Weiner of Chicago, Education Law Section.

Four will receive five-year awards: Angela Imbierowicz of Oak Brook, Civil Practice and Procedure Section; Stanley R. Kaminski of Chicago, State and Local Taxation Section; Julie Ann Sebastian of Chicago, Administrative Law Section; Ellen J. Zabinski of Chicago, Insurance Law Section.