Admission ceremonies for 2,400 new lawyers raise state total over 88,000

The admission of 2,406 new lawyers on Nov. 6 boosted the state’s legal population to 88,137, according to figures compiled by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

Prior to the admission ceremonies, the total on Oct. 31, the cut-off date for the annual ARDC report to the Illinois Supreme Court, was 85,731.

At the 1st District ceremony in Chicago, 1,885 were admitted by Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald and Justices Charles E. Freeman and Anne M. Burke. An 8,500-seat ballroom in McCormick Place West was filled to capacity.

The admittees were welcomed by President Jack C. Carey of the Illinois State Bar Association and Andrea M Scheifer, president of the Decalogue Society.

The motion for admission was made by 18th Circuit Associate Judge Linda E. Davenport, a past president of the DuPage County Bar Association whose daughter, Dana Fortunato, was a member of the class.

Also admitted was Robert Anderson, the son of ISBA past president Irene F. Bahr and 18th Circuit Judge Robert J. Anderson. Bahr seconded Davenport’s motion.

The 2nd District ceremony, in which 237 lawyers were admitted, took place in the Hemmens Memorial Building, Elgin. Appellate Justice Kathryn Zenoff presided. The ISBA sponsored a reception in the north foyer after the program.

In the 3rd District, 63 lawyers were admitted at the I Wireless Center in Moline, where Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride presided. The class was welcomed by Elizabeth L. Jensen of Peoria, a member of the ISBA Board of Governors.

Keynote speaker was Steven Bahls, president of Augustana College. An ISBA reception followed.

A class of 91 attorneys was admitted in the 4th District ceremony at the Michael J. Howlett Building in Springfield, with Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman presiding.

ISBA President-elect John G. O’Brien was keynote speaker. An ISBA reception in the Hall of Flags followed the ceremony.

Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided at the 5th District ceremony at the Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale, where 130 lawyers were admitted.

ISBA Second Vice President Mark D. Hassakis spoke, and the ISBA sponsored a reception in the student lounge.