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  • August 31, 2016 | People
    Richard James Puchalski 1946-2016

    Richard James Puchalski, age 70, passed away amidst his family while on vacation on August 4, 2016 in Anchorage, Alaska. Richard "Dick" was born in Mojave Desert, California in 1946 and was the eldest of five children of his beloved parents, Bernard and Estelle Puchalski.

    For the past forty years Dick worked as a prominent pension, labor, employment and immigration attorney. He was a founding partner of several successful law practices with the most recent being Puchalski Goodloe Marzullo, LLP. Dick enjoyed cooking, gardening, playing the piano, the Premier League Tottenham Hotspur team, and Ron Rico rum (double tall, splash of Diet Coke, and one ice cube). He worked hard all his life to provide and care for his family. His strong work ethic and commitment to his wife, Cheri, of 41 years and family lives on in his children, family and friends.

  • August 31, 2016 | Practice News
    CARPLS seeks volunteer attorneys

    CARPLS Legal Hotline in Chicago seeks volunteer hotline attorneys to give advice to low-income clients in the areas of landlord/tenant, consumer debt, and family law. A three-part training course is provided for volunteers.

    Training Part One*: September 14 at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.; or 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at CARPLS, 17 N. State, Suite 1850, Chicago.

    *Training Part Two and Three will occur the week of September 19. 

  • August 31, 2016 | People
    Senator Kwame Raoul Initiatives Become Laws

    Several criminal justice measures sponsored by  Quarles & Brady LLP, Chicago partner and Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul recently became law. The new laws, advanced by Raoul and his colleagues touch on juvenile justice, expungement, access to licensed professions, sex offender registration policies and more.

    Recently quoted in the Minority Report, “Illinois is again pushing forward as a pioneer of criminal justice reform – because it saves money, because it saves lives and communities and because it’s the right thing to do,” said Senator Kwame Raoul, a Chicago Democrat. “These new laws … will help bring the realities of criminal justice in line with its aims of genuine public safety and lasting rehabilitation.”

  • August 30, 2016 | People
    Retired Judge Geraldine Soat Brown Joins JAMS in Chicago

    JAMS, the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide, today announced the addition of Hon. Geraldine Soat Brown (Ret.) to its panel. Judge Brown will be based in the JAMS Chicago Resolution Center. She will serve as a mediator, arbitrator and special master in a variety of disputes including Business/Commercial, Construction, Employment, Intellectual Property and Professional Liability.

    Judge Brown joins JAMS after 16 years of distinguished service as a Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, including four years as Presiding Magistrate Judge. During her time on the bench, Judge Brown presided over thousands of civil cases in both pretrial and trial stages, including jury and bench trials in breach of contract, employment, civil rights, tort and civil RICO cases.

  • August 25, 2016 | Events
    Young Lawyers to host Day at the Races on Sept. 24

    Join your peers for an afternoon of socializing and horse racing at this annual event! 

    When: Saturday, September 24, 2016, Noon – 6:00 p.m.

    Tickets will be available for pick up at 11:15 a.m. on race day at the will call window, Grandstand Entrance (east side off of Wilke Road entrance).

    Where: Arlington Park Racecourse, 2200 W Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
    ISBA will be at the Canopy Tables in the Winners Circle Section. (Map and Directions)

    Cost: Cost: $9.00 per adult, $4.00 per youth age 4-17. Tickets are complimentary for children 3 and under. General Admission cost includes admission to the park, a daily racing guide, and a fabulous day of Thoroughbred racing!

    Lunch is not included but our seating area is BYOB!

    Please register by Wednesday, September 21, 2016

    For information on permitted and prohibited items in the park, please visit: http://www.arlingtonpark.com/visit/general-information

    Questions: Please email Blake Howard at bhoward@isba.org.

  • August 25, 2016 | Member Services
    Chicago Blackhawks preseason ticket offer for ISBA members

    Dear Illinois State Bar Association Member,

    With the 2016-17 season quickly approaching, we would like to offer you an exclusive opportunity to purchase preseason tickets.

    Receive a framed, autographed locker room photo with the purchase of four or more tickets in the 100 or 200 level, while supplies last.* Each 11x17 framed photo will be signed by one of the following players: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith or Brent Seabrook!

    This is your opportunity to get an early look at the Blackhawks and see opponents like Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Detroit.

    To purchase tickets, click here and enter the promo code LAW

    Blackhawks Preseason Games Offered:

  • August 24, 2016 | Practice News
    DuPage County accepting applications for associate judge vacancy

    Chief Judge Kathryn E. Creswell announced today that applications for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, DuPage County, have been received from those on the attached list.

    The vacancy is the result of the appointment of Associate Judge Karen M. Wilson to Circuit Judge.

  • August 23, 2016 | Member Services
    New Fastcase Kiosk: On-the-Go and the CRO

    Fastcase is free for ISBA members and sponsored by ISBA Mutual Insurance Company. In downtown Chicago and need to do some legal research? ISBA members can stop by our Chicago office located at 20 S. Clark, Suite 900, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and make themselves at home at our new 'Fastcase Kiosk'. Be sure to check in with the front desk receptionist upon arrival.

  • August 22, 2016 | ISBA News
    Women and the Law Committee hosts Professional Development Luncheon

    The ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law and the Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) co-hosted a Professional Development Luncheon on Aug. 17 at the Chicago Office. The luncheon topic was the Illinois Paid Family Leave Act. On hand for the luncheon were Women and the Law Chair Julie Neubauer, Board Co-liaison Bridget Duignan, WBAI President Adria Mossing and ISBA Board member Lisa Nyuli.

  • August 17, 2016 | Practice News
    Judge removed from hearing cases due to alleged misconduct

    Pursuant to action taken today by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Judge Valarie E. Turner has been temporarily reassigned to duties other than judicial duties in the office of the Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District, Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. The assignment is effective until further notice.

    The decision to reassign Judge Turner followed a meeting of the Circuit Court of Cook County Executive Committee convened today by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans to discuss allegations of improper conduct involving Judge Turner. The committee was informed that Judge Turner allegedly permitted attorney Rhonda Crawford, a law clerk with the Office of the Chief Judge and candidate for judicial election in November 2016, to adjudicate at least two cases from the bench while wearing a judicial robe in Judge Turner’s courtroom.

    Until today, Judge Turner had been assigned to the Sixth Municipal District Courthouse in Markham where she heard a variety of matters in rotation with other judges. 

     “The public’s confidence in the judiciary is the cornerstone of our system of justice, and I have taken the steps necessary to preserve that confidence,” said Chief Judge Evans. “Because the investigation is pending, I believe it is inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

    In addition, Crawford was suspended pending internal investigation without pay by the Office of the Chief Judge. Her current annual salary is $56,961, and she has been employed as a law clerk/staff attorney with the office since 2011.