Circuit shorts

Judge J. Scott Swaim of the 21st Circuit was inducted in June to honorary membership in Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX), a national honor society in paralegal studies.

The ceremony at the Kankakee County Courthouse was convened by Kankakee Community College, where the society has one of its five Illinois chapters.

Three 2007 graduates of the KCC paralegal and legal assistant studies program also were inducted. They are Glen M. Cretens of Bourbonnais, Susan M. Sims of Wilmington and Adriene I. Taylor of Manteno.

Judge Swaim addressed the class, and Chief Judge Kathy Bradshaw Elliott presided over the LEX induction ceremony.

A judge since 2003 after 35 years in private practice, Swaim was a county guardian ad litem. He was counsel and secretary of the Kankakee County Public Building Commission for 30 years.

Paul Clement, a former associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis, was appointed interim U.S. attorney general on Aug. 27 after the resignation of Alberto Gonzales.

Solicitor general since 2005, Clement joined the Chicago-based law firm in 1994 after clerking for federal Judge Laurence Silberman and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

He left Kirkland in 1997 to become chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Federalism and Property Rights. He joined the Bush administration in 2001 as deputy solicitor general under Theodore Olson.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans of the Cook County Circuit Court will receive a 2007 Leadership Award on Wednesday, Sept. 19, during a Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) 30th anniversary benefit luncheon at the Hotel Inter-Continental, Chicago.

In observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, TASC will honor Judge Evans for leadership in providing treatment as an option to incarcerating people with substance abuse or mental health afflictions.

In addition to Evans, speakers include TASC President Melody M. Heaps and individuals whose lives have been changed by the not-for-profit agency. Call Monica Hubert at (312) 573-8214 for reservations.

Cook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine announced Aug. 10 that he would not run for election to a fourth term next year. Elected in 1996 over incumbent Jack O'Malley, he had served three years as first assistant when Richard M. Daley was state's attorney in the 1980s.

A former partner in Shefsky, Froehlich & Devine and Phelan, Cahill, Devine & Quinlan, Devine was president of the Chicago Park District board from 1989 to 1993.

Judge Stuart P. Borden took office Aug. 27 as chief judge of the 10th Circuit when Judge Richard E. Grawey of Pekin relinquished the seat eight months after he succeeded former Chief Judge John A. Barra.

Borden has presided in Stark, Marshall and Putnam County Courthouses.

Maureen Ward Kirby, a partner in Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, Chicago, has been appointed to the Cook County Circuit Court vacancy of Michael T. Healy. She will serve until Dec. 1, 2008.

Christian County State's Attorney Bradley T. Paisley of Taylorville became an associate judge in the 4th Circuit on Aug. 21. He succeeded David Slater, who retired Aug. 17.

New associate judges in the 7th Circuit are Rudolph M. Braud Jr. of Zack, Stampf Ltd., Springfield, and John E. Childress, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District.

Victor V. Sprenglemeyer of Galena, a 15th Circuit associate judge for 16, was appointed to the circuit court on July 2. A former Dubuque attorney who relocated to Jo Daviess County in 1991, he is a 1966 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law.

Associate Judge Rodney A. Clutts of the 1st Circuit in Jonesboro retired Aug. 1 after 18 years. A former Union County state's attorney, he was appointed to the bench in 1989.

Judge David L. Coogan of the 11th Circuit in Lincoln will retire in November after 22 years on the bench. He became an associate judge in 1985 and was elected in 1998 to the circuit court vacancy of Gerald Dehner.

McLean County Circuit Clerk Sandra Parker has announced that she will not seek re-election in 2008. She was appointed in 1989 and subsequently elected to the office.

Appellate Justice Alan J. Greiman of the 1st District was elected Aug. 21 to his 11th term as chair of the executive committee, effective Sept. 1.

Presiding Judge Patricia Martin Bishop of the Cook County Child Protection Division has been elected secretary of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. She has served on the board since 2002.

The 17th Circuit is accepting applications from experienced trial attorneys to contract as counsel in court cases when the Boone County Public Defender's Office has conflicts. Compensation is $3,404 per month.

The assignments would include felony, misdemeanor, traffic and juvenile matters. Applications must be submitted by Friday, Oct. 5, at Todd A. Schroeder, Trial Court Administrator, Suite 345, 400 W. State St., Rockford 61101.