ISBA past president Cheryl I. Niro of Chicago has been appointed the first executive director of the Illinois Supreme Court's new Commission on Professionalism. She will begin her tenure on April 3.

“No one is more qualified for this position,” said Chief Justice Robert R. Thomas in the court's March 1 announcement. “Cheryl's commitment to serving the legal profession is unsurpassed, and we are truly lucky to have her on board.”

The chief justice initiated the concept of the commission, which was established last fall, pursuant to Rule 799, to improve civility among lawyers, judges and clients in Illinois courts.

Wheaton attorney David F. Rolewick, who chairs the 14-member commission, headed a special committee that spearheaded the project by conducting a series of regional town hall forums on professionalism, diversity and equality within the profession.

Niro was a volunteer facilitator for 14 of the forums, during which her awareness of the need for a commission was enhanced.

“In creating the commission, the court has given us a tool to reshape our workplace into one that more closely represents the core values of our profession,” she said. “I am honored to be a part of this innovative program.”

Rolewick, a member of the ISBA Cor-poration, Securities and Business Law Section Council, said commission members were please that Niro was selected to implement its goals.

“We are gratified she has chosen to dedicate the next several years of her life to this important initiative to improve the quality of the legal profession and the delivery of legal services to the people,” he said.

A partner in the Chicago firm of Quinlan & Carroll, Niro was ISBA president in 1999-2000, concluding six years on the Board of Governors. She has been active in American Bar Association leadership since 1994.

Under her direction, a full-time staff will be hired to develop and approve professionalism courses to be certified under minimum continuing legal education standards, and to promote an awareness of professionalism in the bench and bar.

The commission will be a resource for information and statements on principles of ethical and professional responsibility. It will encourage, guide and assist lawyers on tenets of the profession and will collaborate with law schools on programs for students.

“Our initial work will focus on results-oriented, proactive projects that address priority issues,” Niro said, including “the role of the judiciary in setting and maintaining the highest standards of conduct.”

The Supreme Court's announcement said that Illinois is believed to be one of only 13 states with permanent commissions to promote professionalism among lawyers and judges.

In addition to Rolewick, the commission includes two ISBA Assembly members: 3rd Circuit Associate Judge Richard L. Tognarelli of Edwardsville, secretary of the Committee on Public Relations, and Sonni C. Williams, assistant corporation counsel for the City of Peoria.

Among other members are Chicago at--torneys Michael W. Coffield, member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Council; Lawrence M. Templer, member of the Committee on Professional Conduct, and Debra B. Walker, who serves in the Illinois Bar Foundation board.

Also Prof Bruce A. Boyer of the Loyola University School of Law; 18th Circuit Judge Kathryn E. Creswell of Wheaton; Prof. C. Kristina Gunsalis of the University of Illinois College of Law; Jeanette Hunter of East Moline; Prof. Robert Gilbert Johnston of The John Marshall Law School; Gordon B. Nash Jr., a past president of the Chicago Bar Association; Gwendolyn Yvette Rowan, executive director of the Cook County Bar Association, and Appellate Justice Stephen L. Spomer of Marion.

The federal judiciary is represented by Judge Michael P. McCuskey of Urbana, a member of the ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council.

Mary T. Robinson of Chicago, administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, an ex officio member, serves on the ISBA Committee on Mental Health Law and Special Committee on Ancillary Services.