Central Illinois

Jacques W. Scott, 88, of Bethany, passed away at 8:40 a.m. Saturday, July 10, at McKinley Court in Decatur. Funeral services have been held with Military Rites by the Bethany American Legion Post #507. Mr. Scott was born on April 22, 1922, in Decatur, the son of A. Jay and Clydia Jay (Heiland) Scott.  He was a World War II Army Veteran.  He served in the 2nd Army in the China-Burma-India Theater.  He served from October 1942 to February 1946 and attained the rank of Master Sergeant.  He married Leola Jane McCarty June 29, 1958, in Bethany. He graduated from the Eastern Illinois State Teachers College, Charleston in 1947, and the University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign in 1951.  He practiced law in Bethany until his retirement in 2004.  He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Bethany.  He was also a member of the Bethany American Legion Post #507. He is survived by his wife Leola; daughter, Mary Kay Scott and husband James Meehan of Kildeer, and son, Jay Scott and wife Judy of Decatur; grandchildren, Nathan, Emily, Meghan, Mackenzie, Andrew and Luke. He is preceded in death by his parents. Both his daughter and son are practicing attorneys and also graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law.  Mary Kay Scott is a shareholder with the Chicago law firm of Brenner, Ford, Monroe & Scott, Ltd., and Jay Scott is the First Assistant State’s Attorney with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office in Decatur.

Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Circuit Court vacancy in the 11th Judicial Circuit. The vacancy was created by the upcoming retirement of Judge G. Michael Prall on November 2, 2010. Judge Prall has been a judge for the 11th Circuit since 1991. Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to final Court approval. The applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process. Notices of the vacancy has been posted in courthouses throughout the Circuit. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court’s website at www.state.il.us/court and follow the instructions on the “Latest News” scroller announcing the Eleventh Judicial Circuit vacancy. Original applications must be submitted via mail to:

Central Illinois

• Trial begins for B-N woman accused of assaulting boys, Bloomington Pantagraph

Chicago area

• Drew's lawyers: Prosecution stalling case to get new judge, Daily Herald
• Daley: New gun ordinance "reasonable", Chicago Tribune
• Bail stays in Kane Co. jury-tampering case, Daily Herald

Northern Illinois

• Judge OKs restraining order to stop Rockford fire station closure, Rockford Register Star

Nation

• FCC indecency rule struck down by appeals court, Chicago Tribune

This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day. More Daily Legal News available at www.isba.org/dailylegalnews

[caption id="attachment_12973" align="alignright" width="230" caption="“It is portentous, and a thing of state; that here at midnight in our little town; a mourning figure walks, and will not rest; near the old courthouse pacing up and down.” Vachel Lindsay – “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight in Springfield, Illinois”"][/caption] This year’s 2010 ISBA Solo & Small Firm Conference will once again take place in the hometown (Springfield) of our state’s most famous and beloved lawyer (Abraham Lincoln.)  But Conference attendees won’t be the only ones to haunt the capital city… While there are a number of spirits who are said to haunt this historic town, the most famous is that of Abraham Lincoln himself. According to over a century of legends, Abraham Lincoln continues to lurk around his tomb. He has also been reported to have been seen walking the streets surrounding Springfield’s original courthouse, as well as the hallways of his former home. Others have reported seeing the ghost of Mary Lincoln at their old home located at 413 South Eighth Street. Having a long-standing reputation as being haunted, reports range from apparitions of a woman to toys moving of their own accord. Most people believe that the house is haunted by Mary. The most interesting haunting surrounding Lincoln is the phantom funeral train.