DiVito exemplifies professional excellence

By Stephen Anderson

Retirement from the bench, for some, signals the impending conclusion of a distinguished legal career. For Gino L. DiVito (right), it was just the beginning.

The Chicago attorney will receive a Distinguished Award for Excellence on Friday, Oct. 10, during the annual Illinois Bar Foundation Gala in the Four Seasons Hotel. For reservations, call (312) 726-6072.

In addition to a busy litigation schedule as a founding partner in Tabet, DiVito & Rothstein, Gino DiVito has become a leader in the concept of keeping litigants out of court through alternative dispute resolution.

A founder of Judicial Dispute Resolution after his retirement in 1997 from the Appellate Court, he continues as an unaffiliated mediator and arbitrator.

A certified Cook County Circuit Court mediator for Law Division and Chancery Division cases, he serves on the boards of the Chicago chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution and the International Academy of Dispute Resolution.

A 1963 graduate of the Loyola University School of Law, DiVito became an assistant state’s attorney, and he was chief of the Criminal Division in 1977 when he was appointed an associate judge.

He was elected to the circuit court in 1988 and assigned to the 1st District Appellate Court the next year. He was presiding justice of the 2nd Division, a member of the executive committee and chair of the computer and information committee.

Then on Aug. 1, 1997, DiVito left the court to begin a new career in trial and appellate advocacy with Quinlan & Crisham. He and two colleagues established Tabet, DiVito & Rothstein in February 2001.

Active in the Illinois State Bar Association since 1975, DiVito was elected to the Assembly in 1980 and he served on the Board of Governors from 1984 to 1990.

He chaired the Special Committee on Merit Selection of Judges and was a member of the Task Force on Minorities and the Justice System, and the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Committee.

DiVito chaired the Criminal Justice Section Council and began to compile and update the ISBA “Guide to the Illinois Sentencing Act” (see announcement on page 13 and story on page 25).

He received the Virgil E. Tipton Jr. Publications Award in 1999 and a Board of Governors Award in 2000.

A past president of the Illinois Judges Association, the Appellate Lawyers Association and the Markey-Wigmore Inn of Court, DiVito has served on the boards of the Lawyers’ Assistance Foundation, the John Howard Association and the Chicago Bar Association.

He has received the Justinian Society Award of Excellence, the Loyola Law Alumni Medal of Excellence, the IJA Lifetime Achievement Award and the St. Ignatius College Prep Award of Excellence in the Field of Law.

An adjunct professor at Loyola, where he has taught advanced trial advocacy since 1979, DiVito also has taught for Willamette University in Oregon, the National Judicial College in Reno, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the Court Practice Institute.

Leadership to change

The Illinois Bar Foundation Gala marks the end of the two-year tenure of David B. Sosin as president. He will be succeeded by Vincent F. Cornelius during the board meeting on Saturday, Oct. 11, in the Hilton Suites.

During the black-tie benefit dinner dance where Gino DiVito is honored, live and silent auctions will add to both the enjoyment of patrons and the funding of law-related charities throughout the year.

Gala co-chairs are William F. Conlon and Philip H. Corboy. IBF board chair and vice chair are Christine M. Ory and Edward J. Burt. State Senators John J. Cullerton and Kirk Dillard are honorary chairs.

Other chairs include Richard A. Devine and Paula H. Holderman, VIP Committee; Kevin E. O’Reilly and Caesar A. Tabet, Program Book Committee; Antonio M. Romanucci and Rudolf G. Schade Jr., Underwriting Committee.

Also Lynn C. Cavallo and James J. Morici, Auction Committee; Richard D. Felice, Russell W. Hartigan and John E. Thies, Raffle Committee.