Circuit shorts

The list of new associate judges of the Cook County Circuit Court was released March 6, and it brought good news to Palos Heights attorney Naomi H. Schuster, a member of the ISBA Board of Governors.

She is one of the 31 new associates elected by circuit judges from a slate of 62 finalists that was narrowed from 243 applicants. They will be installed April 11, and their terms will expire June 30.

Although technically serving four-year terms, they are included with all sitting associate judges who must face re-appointment on July 1 by Supreme Court Rule.

Joining the new associates is Leonard Murray, a past president of the Cook County Bar Association, who for several years chaired the ISBA Committee on Judicial Evaluations and the executive committee of the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening.

Bar leadership helped more applicants to the bench, including Decalogue Society President Martin P. Moltz and Jeanne M. Reynolds, a vice president of both the North Suburban Bar and Women's Bar Associations.

Others are Lauren G. Edidin, past president of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association; ISBA Assembly member David A. Skryd, and Neera L. Walsh, corresponding secretary of the Women's Bar.

Completing the list are: David B. Atkins, Callie L. Baird, Yolande M. Bourgeois, Darron E. Bowden, Anthony J. Calabrese, John T. Carr, Peggy Chiampas, Lisa R. Curcio, Mathias W. Delort, Sheila K. Devane, Pamela H. Gillespie, Steven J. Goebel, Joel L. Greenblatt.

Also Bridget J. Hughes, Timothy J. Joyce, Stuart P. Katz, Maria Kuriakos Ciesil, Patricia M. Logue, Joseph D. Panarese, Kathleen A. Panozzo, Angela M. Petrone, Marguerite A. Quinn, Domenica A. Stephenson and Franklin U. Valderrama.

Homewood attorney Martin D. Coghlan has been appointed to the 15th Subcircuit of the Cook County Circuit Court for a term that ends Dec. 1, 2008.

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Carterville attorney James R. Moore will be installed May 1 as a 1st Circuit judge and will serve until Dec. 1, 2008. He replaces Bruce D. Stewart, who was elected to the Appellate Court.

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Madison County assistant state's attorney Duane L. Bailey of Alton has been named an associate judge of the 3rd Circuit. He succeeds Barbara Crowder, who was elected to the circuit court.

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Associate Judge Valerie Boettle Ceckowski of the 19th Circuit has been appointed to the circuit court vacancy of Henry Tonigan III, who retired. A judge since 1997, Ceckowski will serve until Dec. 1, 2008.

Applications for the Ceckowski associate judge vacancy will be accepted through Monday, March 26, by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

New associate judges in the 19th Circuit are former public defender David P. Brodsky, assistant state's attorney Daniel B. Shanes and Thomas M. Schippers of Dudley & Lake, Libertyville.

Associate Judge Donald A. Behle of Logan County in the 11th Circuit has resigned.

Peoria attorney John P. Nicoara has been named chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee. Mary Carol Farmer of Chicago is vice chair.

New committee members are Nicholas J. Motherway and Rudolf G. Schade of Chicago, replacing Hugh C. Griffin and Martin J. Healy Jr. Reappointed members are Steven F. Molo and John B. Simon of Chicago and Richard D. Felice of Wheaton.

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Judge Kathryn E. Crewell of the 18th Circuit has replaced 20th Circuit Judge Lloyd A. Cueto on the Illinois Courts Commission.

Judges Joe Harrison of the 2nd Circuit and Richard E. Grawey of the 10th Circuit have been appointed to the commission, and David L. Coogan of the 11th Circuit was reappointed.

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Members of the Commission on Pro-fessionalism who have been resppointed are Bruce A. Boyer and Lawrence M. Templer of Chicago, C. Kristina Gunsalus of Champaign, Jeanette Hunter of East Moline, and 3rd Circuit Associate Judge Richard L. Tognarelli. Vincent F. Vitullo of Chicago is a new members.

John Matthew “Matt” Chancey, an assistant Lake County state's attorney for more than 20 years, became Fayette County assistant state's attorney on March 5 after moving from Waukegan to Vandalia.

Formerly chief of Lake County's 14-member Felony Review Division in an office of 48 attorneys, Chancey is now number two in a two-man office. A 1978 graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, he practiced briefly in Vandalia.

Attorney General Lisa M. Madigan issued an advisory opinion Dec. 29 that subcircuit judges do not have to maintain residences in their geographical areas after they are retained in subsequent elections.

The opinion, which had been requested by the Judicial Inquiry Board, says that a judge who is elected in a subcircuit “may reside anywhere within the circuit after winning a circuitwide retention election.”

The ruling may affect subcircuit judgeships in Cook County and the 12th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 22nd Circuits.

Funds derived from forfeitures by drug dealers in DuPage County enabled State's Attorney Joseph E. Birkett to award $9,805.66 in grants recently to 38 schools and organizations for educational programs.

Since the grant initiative began in 1990, a total of 387 grants worth almost $140,000 have been made. The funds are used to provide financial assistance, drug prevention curriculums and scholarships to low-income or high-risk students.

The ISBA Federal Civil Practice Section has invited members of the bench and bar to a free one-hour technology program at 12 noon Thursday, April 19, in Springfield.

“Technology in the Federal Courthouse: Tips and Tools for Use in Federal Trials” will be presented in the third floor courtroom of Judge Jeanne E. Scott of U.S. District Court for the Central District.

Federal courtroom equipment that is designed to help lawyers present evidence effectively to juries will be explained and demonstrated. Available technology includes real-time court reporting that enhances trial techniques.

Speakers are deputy clerk Christy Taylor, court reporter Kathy Sullivan, and paralegal specialist Nancy Bass of the U.S. attorney's office.

There is no MCLE credit for this program, and no registration is required. For more information, call Lara L. Quivey, past chair of the section council, at (217) 557-5490.