The Illinois State Bar Association's Special Committee on Judicial Disqualification Standards met Tuesday at the Chicago Regional Office. The committee is discussing ways to increase public and professional attention to campaign contributions in judicial elections and the perception that such contributions may influence judicial decision making.
On hand for the meeting were (clockwise from left): Diane F. Klotnia of Miller Shakman & Beem, Chicago; Hon. Raymond J. McKoski, Lindenhurst; ISBA Board liaison Christopher Hurley of Hurley McKenna & Mertz, Chicago; co-chair Warren Lupel of Much Shelist, Chicago; Stephen L. Corn of Craig & Craig, Mattoon; Hon. Michael B. Hyman, Circuit Court of Cook County, Skokie and co-chair Hon. Gino L. DiVito, Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC, Chicago.
President John E. Thies appointed this special committee as one of his presidential initiatives. More information on the committee and those serving on it can be found at www.isba.org/committees/judicialdisqualificationstandards.
Chicago Area
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July 11, 2012 |
ISBA News
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July 10, 2012 |
People
Charles “Charlie” Moynihan Evans, age 35, passed away in his Chicago home on July 6, 2012 after a bold and arduous two year battle with cancer. Charlie was born in Champaign, Illinois on July 28, 1976 to Mr. And Mrs. Charles Victor and Ruth Ann Evans, and he spent his childhood in Belleville and Champaign.
During his youth Charlie was very active at Indian Acres Swim Club in Champaign as a beloved coach, life guard, and seasoned member of the swim team. He was also a member of the St. Matthew’s Youth Group. Charlie is a 1994 graduate of Central High School, where he led the swim team, and the experiences and friendships he formed in Champaign enriched his life.
Charlie graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998 with a degree in Economics, and after spending time in Taiwan teaching English, he returned to the University of Illinois College of Law, where he graduated in 2003 summa cum laude and was an Articles Editor of the school’s Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif.
Charlie enjoyed his legal career, especially his clerkships with the Honorable James F. Holderman of the Northern District of Illinois and the Honorable Michael S. Kanne of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He proudly ended his career as an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission.
Charlie met his wife Tiana Nell Evans in law school in 2002. They married in Evanston on December 20, 2008. The couple has two precious sons, Charles John “Jack” Evans, age 2, and Patrick Moynihan Evans, age 1. They were Charlie’s proudest accomplishments and will be his lasting legacy.
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July 9, 2012 |
ISBA News | Events
The Illinois State Bar Association's 8th Annual Solo & Small Firm Conference returns to Chicagoland Sept. 13-15 at the Westin Northwest Chicago in Itasca. Register by Aug. 20 for the Early Bird discount -- a savings of $75. Earn up to 15 hours of MCLE credit, including all 6 hours of PMCLE credit.
Top 10 Reasons To Attend This Year’s Conference
- Networking with like-minded peers from across the state!
- Crowd favorite program Gizmos & Gadgets returns
- Basic and advanced Fastcase legal research training
- New location in Itasca, just northwest of Chicago
- Individual counseling on how to market your firm
- Mobile Device App to put Conference info you need at your fingertips
- Comedians-at-Law at Friday night social event
- Plenary speaker Todd Winegar's Trials of the Century Overview program
- New 4th track of programming – Practice Fundamentals
- 15 HRS MCLE/ 6 HRS PMCLE credit available
Learn more and register today at www.isba.org/soloconference
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July 5, 2012 |
ISBA News
Illinois State Bar Association President John E. Thies (front row, center) gave a speech to representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Justice, including Zhao Jianji (front row, second from left), the Director of the Ministry's Department of Legislative Affairs. The delages were on a two week trip to the U.S., coordinated by the University of Illinois. President Thies discussed the various bar associations in the United States (including their respective activities, and how such associations benefit various members of the legal profession and public); lawyer regulation; legal ethics; legal education; and legal aid (among other topics).
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July 5, 2012 |
People
John G. O’Brien, one of the most recognized attorneys in Illinois, has been named vice president and counsel at Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG). O’Brien has resigned from the ATG Board of Directors to assume his new responsibilities; Chicago attorney Jonathan Sherry replaced him.
O’Brien, who has practiced law in Arlington Heights since 1972, was president of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) in 2009-10 and is past president and current chairman of the board of directors of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (IRELA), an organization he founded in 1994. IRELA, composed of real estate attorneys from all corners of Illinois, is the only bar association that represents the interests solely of real estate attorneys. ATG and IRELA have partnered over the years to advocate for real estate attorneys and the clients they serve.
Largely through O’Brien’s advocacy efforts in the mid-90s, IRELA filed a lawsuit against a large Chicago-area realtor to prevent its agents from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law by their efforts to offer what amounted to legal advice to home buyers. IRELA won the lawsuit and continues, according to the ISBA, “to serve as a watchdog to prevent non-lawyers from offering what are essentially legal services to home buyers and sellers.” The impact of this ruling is clear not only for attorneys but also for the clients they represent.
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July 5, 2012 |
Practice News
Chief Judge John T. Elsner has announced that the Court is accepting applications to fill a vacancy for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit of Illinois, DuPage County. This vacancy is a result of the retirement of Associate Judge Cary B. Pierce.
Judge Elsner added that applications to fill this vacancy will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2012. Applicants must be a United States citizen, licensed to practice law in this state and a resident of DuPage County. Two original applications, submitted on the prescribed application form, must be filed with:
- Michael J. Tardy, Director
- Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
- 3101 Old Jacksonville Road
- Springfield, IL 52704-6488
Applications can be obtainted from the Chief Judge's Office, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts or from the Supreme Court's website: www.state.il.us/court.
Applications may not be submitted electronically or via facsimile.
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June 25, 2012 |
Events
The Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division will host a golf outing on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont.
This event will benefit the IBF/YLD Children’s Assistance Fund. The $150 ticket includes golf, cart, concession stand ticket, cocktails, dinner and CLE program. Tickets to attend just the evening dinner are $50 each. Many sponsorship opportunities are available.
Deadline to register is 4:30 pm, July 27th. Register at www.isba.org/sections/yld/golf
For general inquiries, please contact George Schoenbeck, gschoenbeck@sosinarnold.com, Michael DiNatale, mdinatale@dinatalelaw.com or Jerry Napleton, jerrynapleton@gmail.com
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June 21, 2012 |
CLE
Join us in Chicago on June 29th to learn how the National Labor Relations Act can affect non-union businesses! This comprehensive overview offers a look at Illinois labor laws from the differing perspectives of seasoned labor law attorneys – including union, management and the public employer perspective – on the long-range anticipated consequences of recent case law and proposed regulations.
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June 20, 2012 |
People
Karen Kies DeGrand was installed as the President of the Appellate Lawyers Association (ALA) this week. The ALA is an organization of Illinois lawyers whose practices are focused on the courts of review. Ms. DeGrand is a partner at Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth and leads the firm's appellate practice group. She has briefed and/or argued cases in a wide array of substantive matters before the appellate and supreme courts of Illinois, as well as in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and in the Wisconsin and Indiana appellate and supreme courts. Ms. DeGrand also writes Quick Take reviews of Illinois Supreme Court opinions for this blog.
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June 20, 2012 |
People
Bob Mork, age 58, died May 29 at his home surrounded by his loving family following a battle with cancer. All funeral services are private. A private family burial service was held at Wheaton Cemetery.
Bob was born in Chicago, and spent his early childhood years there and in California. He attended Wheaton Central High School and played as captain of the football team. He graduated from Wheaton College, where he met his wife of 34 years, Lorraine. He went on to the John Marshall Law School to earn his law degree. He demonstrated his skill as an attorney early by serving as a Law Clerk for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Howard Ryan.
A resident of Wheaton for 45 years, Bob's career was marked by public service to the community. He served as an attorney and advisor to the DuPage County Forest Preserve District working for the stewardship of local conservation efforts. As a Wheaton City Councilman from 1993 to 2005, Bob served his hometown working to revitalize the downtown area. Serving as the DuPage County Public Guardian, Bob cared for the well-being of the disabled and most vulnerable. In each of his positions of responsibility, he assumed and pursued an ethic of good government worthy of the public trust.