Chicago Area

Johnson & Bell received the highest state level award from the Illinois Committee of the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (“ESGR”) for its support for members of the United States military services.

Presenting the award to firm founder William V. Johnson and firm vice-president Joseph R. Marconi were US Navy Captain Mark T. Hunzeker, the chief of the Navy’s Midwest Region Legal Services Office, Great Lakes Naval Station; Renato Bacci, the incoming chairman of the Illinois ESGR Committee; and William C. Glynn, the Northern Illinois chair of ESGR.

Johnson & Bell was selected to receive the award at the recommendation of Frank M. Grenard, one of the firm attorneys.  Grenard is an ombudsman and military outreach volunteer with the Illinois ESGR Committee. He is also the Chairman of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Military Affairs Committee.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday the assignment of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Mary Anne Mason to the Illinois Appellate Court for the First Judicial District to fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Appellate Justice David P. Sterba on July 1, 2013.

Judge Mason, who served as an assistant U.S. attorney and worked in private practice, will continue her legal career in the very same place where she launched it: in the Appellate Court.

"To serve on the same Court where I started as a law clerk 36 years ago with Justice Daniel J. McNamara, Jr., is an honor beyond belief," Judge Mason said. "I am so grateful to the Supreme Court for this opportunity."

Judge Mason's assignment to the Appellate Court is effective July 8, 2013 and will continue until further order of the Court.

After serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois for five years and working in private practice for 15 years with the Chicago law firm of Kevin M. Forde, Ltd., Judge Mason was appointed to the Circuit Court in September 2000. She was subsequently elected to that position in November 2002 and was retained in 2008.

After a three month assignment to the traffic division, Judge Mason was assigned to the Juvenile Justice Division, where she presided over juvenile delinquency matters. In 2004, she was assigned to the Chancery Division where she hears matters including, among others, requests for injunctions, corporate disputes, review of final administrative decisions and trust and contract construction.

Judge Mason previously served as chair of the Supreme Court Committee on Discovery Procedures. She currently serves as chair of the Chancery Division Mediation Rule Committee.

Don’t miss this opportunity on June 7th to discuss the hottest topics currently under debate in the animal law arena – from the use of therapy dogs in the courts and methods for alternative dispute resolution, to animal shelter laws and some of the most high profile issues in animal advocacy, including puppy mills, farm animal welfare, and captive wildlife regulations. Attorneys with a strong interest in the growing area of animal advocacy and the practice of animal law – as well as practitioners who may find themselves with just one or two matters concerning a conflict involving animals – who attend this full-day seminar gain a better understanding of: how courts across the country have implemented the use of therapy dogs; which efforts should be implemented in an effort to stop the damaging practices of some animal breeding establishments; how alternative dispute resolution can help resolve animal conflicts with greater emotional comfort and stability; how the Humane Society of the U.S. has helped protect laboratory chimps; how the Zanesville incident influenced the enactment of Ohio’s new Dangerous Wild Animal Act; which laws and regulations apply to the various functions of local animal shelters, all-breed shelters, and breed rescues; the new developments in the farm animal arena, including egg production and swine gestation crates; and the unique ethical issues and concerns an attorney may face when representing an animal law case.

Norma Ida Reyes, age 56, died suddenly in her sleep of a massive stroke on Monday, May 6th, 2013.

Norma was born in Chicago and raised in the Humboldt Park area. Her mother, Clara Luz Reyes, raised seven children on her own. Both of Norma's foster parents, Paddy and Barry McNamara were attorneys and she followed in their footsteps by becoming an attorney.

Norma earned her Bachelors and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Notre Dame. She began her legal career working in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and rose through the ranks, eventually attaining the title of Supervisor of the Juvenile Division.

In 1990, Mayor Richard M. Daley hired Ms. Reyes as Senior Counsel in the Law Department where she eventually became Deputy Corporation Counsel. She also served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety, Buildings Commissioner, and Commissioner of Consumer Services/Business Affairs and Consumer Protection before retiring in June 2011. Norma then became Senior Executive Vice President for Taxi Affiliation Services, LLC.

Norma was respected for her political acumen, administrative abilities and fearless determination. She was a favorite of many Aldermen for her fair approach to constituents' services. During her tenure as Commissioner of Consumer Services, she was a strong advocate in the taxicab industry for the accessibility of persons with disabilities.