ISBA election petition filing begins Jan. 15

Although the filing period for Illinois State Bar Association elections does not begin until mid-January, it’s not too early to obtain nominating petitions and begin collecting signatures.

Petition forms may be obtained from the office of executive director in Springfield by calling (800) 252-8908, sending a fax to (217) 525-0712, or e-mailing jhibbs@isba.org.

The complete notice of elections that will be held next spring, along with the applicable rules, is published on pages 10 and 11 of this issue of the ISBA Bar News.

Candidates for third vice president are required to obtain 350 valid signatures statewide; for Board of Governors, 50 signatures from the area; for Assembly, 10 signatures from the area; for law student delegate, 10 signatures from the law school.

Nominations must be completed in writing with original signatures, and may not be submitted by e-mail or facsimile. Candidates will be listed on ballots in the order that their petitions are received.

Eligible candidacy is determined by the location of one’s primary legal office. Only a member who practices outside the state, but lives in Illinois, may use his or her residence address for eligibility.

Nominating petitions may be filed, at either the Illinois Bar Center in Springfield or the Chicago Regional Office, no earlier than Thursday, Jan. 15, and no later than 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Richard D. Felice of Wheaton and John E. Thies of Urbana have announced their plans to seek the office of third vice president.

There will be eight contests for the Board of Governors: two in Cook County; one each in Area 1 (18th Circuit), Area 3 (12th, 13th, 16th and 21st Circuits), Area 4 (10th, 14th and 15th Circuits), Area 6 (7th, 8th and 9th Circuits), and Area 8 (3rd and 20th Circuits); and one Cook County under-age-37 seat.

Twenty-three Cook County seats on the ISBA Assembly will be contested, and each of the 13 affiliated law schools may elect a law student to a one-year term on the Assembly.

Ballots will be mailed by April 1 to ISBA members in good standing, and must be received at the Illinois Bar Center by the close of business on Monday, May 11.

Candidates who are elected will be seated during the ISBA Annual Meeting in June at The Abbey Resort in Fontana, Wis.