Chicago Area

Chief Judge Kathryn E. Creswell and Circuit Court Clerk Chris Kachiroubas are pleased to announce that the 18th Judicial Circuit (DuPage County) has received permission to implement mandatory e-filing of authorized civil cases. Starting on Jan. 1, 2016, new civil cases, as well as pleadings in existing matters, will be required to be filed electronically. In order to assist self-represented parties, work stations in the Circuit Clerk's Office and assistance through the DuPage Law Library will be made available.

DuPage County is the first county in Illinois to be approved for mandatory e-filing of civil cases. Chief Judge Creswell stated, "Electronic filing provides advantages in time, labor and convenience to the Court, the Clerk and the litigants."

"DuPage County has been e-filing since 2004 and this would be the next natural progression. Mandatory e-filing will move the State Court system into a new level of efficiency and accuracy while reducing paper and court/government overhead," Circuit Clerk Kachiroubas added. "The process is simple, but meets the high standard of the Illinois Statutes. Both the first-time filer and the seasoned legal professional will find the system accomodating and competent."

There are no additional fees to e-file in DuPage County. E-file documents are immediately availabed on the Court record upon acceptance by the Circuit Clerk's Office. E-File in DuPage County in online at www.i2file.net.

The national law firm of Arnstein & Lehr LLP welcomes Joseph L. Hoolihan to its Chicago office as an associate in the Litigation Practice Group.

“We are thrilled to have Joseph join our firm. His legal skills will allow us to deepen the services we provide to clients,” said Michael Gesas, Managing Partner of Arnstein & Lehr LLP’s Chicago office.

Mr. Hoolihan chose to join Arnstein because, he says, “When I was searching for a job after law school, I was looking for a firm where I could grow and develop as a trial attorney, that possessed superb attorney-mentors, and that offered a broad range of commercial litigation work. Arnstein has each of these qualities in spades, so the decision was a no-brainer.”

Ice Miller LLP is pleased to announce that Mark Huddle has joined the Firm as a Senior Counsel in the Municipal Finance Group. Mark’s practice focuses on acting as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, and issuer’s counsel in public finance transactions for public and private issuers in Illinois, including school districts, municipalities, airport authorities and manufacturers.

“Mark has both depth and breadth in representing a diverse client base, having served clients ranging from school districts and municipalities to airport authorities and manufacturers,” said Steve Humke, chief managing partner of Ice Miller. “He is a natural fit for our Firm’s Municipal Finance Group.”

In addition to his public finance work, Mark counsels the Firm's public affairs clients on matters relating to local and state governments including: community relations, public affairs, legislative and administrative proceedings, and strategic public policy development. He also counsels both public and private entities on municipal and state governmental matters, including economic development and tax incentive programs, tax increment financing, MBE / WBE certifications, contract procurement, purchase of municipally owned property, real estate tax abatements, zoning and land use, liquor and medical marijuana licensing, regulatory matters and litigation. Finally, he counsels privately held businesses and not for profit organizations regarding corporate and real estate development matters.

Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald, who retired from the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010 after a long and distinguished career, passed away Sunday at his home. He was 74.

Justice Fitzgerald's 34-year judicial career was marked by duty, grace, innovation, and an unparalleled dedication to advancing the quality of justice for those he served. He was a model for integrity.

"Having joined the court shortly after his election in 2000, I had the privilege of serving with Justice Fitzgerald for a decade," Chief Justice Rita B. Garman said. "Before we both arrived on the Supreme Court, Justice Fitzgerald and I had known each other for almost 30 years – ever since we both became rather young members of the judiciary."

"Over the many years, he never changed. He was a warm and caring person, and even when on the bench, his demeanor revealed his genuine concern about the people who appeared before him. Tom Fitzgerald was dedicated to serving the people of Illinois and to making the judicial system as fair, efficient, and accessible as it could possibly be."

In addition to being a fine jurist, Chief Justice Garman said Justice Fitzgerald shared his gifts with others by teaching lawyers and other judges at numerous educational programs.

"He was also a true scholar of the life and work of Abraham Lincoln and a devoted man of faith," Chief Justice Garman added. "The people of Illinois were privileged to have Thomas Fitzgerald as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court for a decade, and I was privileged to be his colleague and friend."