Circuit shorts

Lola P. Maddox of Godfrey, a former associate judge in the 3rd Circuit, has been appointed to the vacancy of George J. Moran Jr., who retired Feb. 14 after 26 years. She will serve until Dec. 4, when a newly elected judge is inducted.

Maddox became an associate judge in 1979, becoming the first woman judge in Madison County history. She retired in 2004 but indicated she would be willing to serve again in a limited capacity.

Since she left the bench, she has been a volunteer attorney for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation.

Chicago trial attorney Maurice J. McCarthy has been appointed to the vacancy of retired Cook County Judge Richard A. Siebel in the 12th Subcircuit. He will serve until Dec. 4.

A past president and Charter Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation, McCarthy served on the ISBA Board of Governors from 1973 to 1978 and later on the Assembly. He chaired the Committee on Judicial Appointments and served on the Task Force on Certification and Specialization.

McCarthy was president of the Appellate Lawyers Association in 1980-81.

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Belleville attorney Heinz M. Rudolf, a former assistant public defender, has been appointed an associate judge of the 20th Circuit. He had been a member of the St. Clair County Board since 2002 and an associate with Becker, Paulson, Hoerner & Thompson.

Chief Judge Stephen D. White of the 12th Circuit is expected to announce a replacement by April 1 for Kathleen Glenney Kallan, who retired March 6 as an associate judge after 16 years. Applications were received from 25 Will County attorneys.

Judge J. Phil Gilbert of U.S. District Court for the Southern District will conduct a naturalization ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, March 31, in the auditorium at the Southern Illinois University School of Law. A reception will follow in the formal lounge.

Chicago attorney Alan Rosen has joined the Illinois attorney general's office as deputy chief, succeeding Barry B. Gross, who retired. Rosen was senior partner in Young, Rosen, Finkel & Silbert.

John Taylor left his position as first assistant Champaign County public defender to become an assistant federal defender in the Central District in Urbana on Jan. 23. He handled some federal clients previously when conflicts occurred.

Taylor replaces Tiffani Johnson, who is now a public defender in Nevada.

A help desk for unrepresented parties in federal civil case operates from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Chicago, in space provided by the clerk's office on the 20th floor near the south bank of elevators.

A staff attorney from the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago will be available for appropriate, limited legal assistance, but will not represent pro se litigants in court.

Funded by the Chicago Bar Foundation, the help desk project is partnered by the LAFMC and Illinois Legal Aid Online to offer general information about legal rights and court procedures to as many as a thousand individuals annually.

An Attorney Direct Deposit Bond Refund Program has been established by Cook County Circuit Clerk Dorothy Brown to offer lawyers the option of having cash refunds made expeditiously to business checking or savings accounts, rather than by mail.

For details, call (312) 603-7668 or visit the clerk's office accounting department in suite 1005 of the Richard J. Daley Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.