[caption id="attachment_19611" align="alignright" width="214" caption="M. Carol Pope"][/caption]
Hon. M. Carol Pope, of Petersburg, an Illinois Appellate Court Judge in the Fourth Appellate District, which includes thirty counties in central Illinois, will be installed as the 40th president of the Illinois Judges Association (IJA) at the organization’s Annual Meeting, on Friday, June 3, noon, at The John Marshall Law School, 315 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman will officiate at the swearing-in ceremony of Judge Pope and the other officers who are Rita M. Novak, of Chicago, first vice president; Mary S. Schostok, of Libertyville, second vice president; Michael B. Hyman, of Northfield, third vice president; Robert J. Anderson, of Wheaton, secretary; and Israel Abaya Desierto, of Chicago, treasurer.
During her presidency, Judge Pope plans to expand the IJA’s “Courtroom in the Classroom” education program to encourage high school students to learn more about the rights and duties of citizenship, government, and the Illinois and United States Constitutions.
“Many citizens lack an understanding of the courts’ role in society and in protecting Constitutional rights and access to justice. We hope we can contribute to the educational process,” she said.
Chicago Area
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May 24, 2011 |
Events
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May 18, 2011 |
Events
The Illinois Judges Foundation will hold its third annual “Batter Up for Justice” benefit on Friday, June 3, in the Terrace Suites at U.S. Cellular Field, where the Chicago White Sox will play the Detroit Tigers. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support a summer Judicial Intern Opportunity Program for qualified women, minority and financially disadvantaged law students. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and the first pitch is scheduled at 7:10 p.m. A silent auction will be conducted during the benefit, and fireworks will follow the baseball game. Admission prices, which include food and drinks, are $200 for lawyers and guests, and $150 for judges, law students, government and legal service attorneys. The collegial outing will help provide full-time, minimum six-week internships in state and federal courts, plus stipends, for first- and second-year law students who qualify because of minority status or financial need. The philanthropic event is open to the public, but space is limited. Reservations may be made by calling (312) 554-2008, or e-mailing khosty@chicagobar.org. Sponsorships at various levels are partly tax-deductible.
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May 11, 2011 |
People
[caption id="attachment_19421" align="alignright" width="134" caption="Mary Patricia Benz"][/caption] Mary Patricia Benz, an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, opened her practice in downtown Chicago concentrating on litigation and appeals, mediation and arbitration, and lawyer professional responsibility matters. In her business model, Ms. Benz often works with co-counsel, adding collaborative services and offering clients an efficient, creative and personal approach to complex legal problems. Ms. Benz has over 30 years of experience in state and federal courts and will focus on dispute resolution for individuals and businesses including lawyers, educators, and other professionals. Recent cases include a dispute among the principals of a real estate development company, a contract dispute among pharmaceutical vendors, an alleged class action involving claims of violation of individuals’ rights of publicity, insurance disputes involving property damage coverage and title insurance, consumer disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, employment disputes, professional malpractice and malicious prosecution claims, disputes related to attorney’s fees and professional discipline, and legal ethics counseling. For more than 10 years, Ms. Benz served as a volunteer on the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) hearing and inquiry boards providing her with a solid base for representing lawyers at ARDC and counseling lawyers about ethics issues.
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May 11, 2011 |
Events
The Illinois Bar Foundation will host a Wine Tasting Event to support the Warren Lupel Fund on Wednesday, June 8, at The Tasting Room, 1415 W. Randolph. This reception will feature a pairing of wine and hors d'oeuvres from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Find out more on the IBF website.
Why is your support so important?
Donations to the Lupel Fund are used for the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Lawyers Care Program. The Lawyers Care Program provides support to those lawyers or their families who are unable to support themselves due to age, infirmity or other tragedy. The typical subsistence recipients are active bar members. They have a severe and debilitating illness that prevents them from practicing law. The illness is such that their medical expenses have depleted their savings and, with no current income, they can’t support their family or pay their mortgage. The Foundation steps in to keep the family in their home and put some food on the table. We don’t provide anything extravagant, just enough to keep them going through this difficult time. With your help, we can continue. -
May 10, 2011 |
ISBA News
ISBA Board member Bernard Wysocki (second from left) presented Chicago Police Officer Marek Drozd (center) with the ISBA’s annual Law Enforcement Award at the Polish American Police Association (PAPA) annual dinner on May 6 at the White Eagle Banquets and Restaurant in Niles. Looking on are the police officer’s nominators, Assistant State’s Attorney David Williams (left) and attorney Anna Krolikowska. Second from right is PAPA President Thomas Surma. The ISBA Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system. It is given sparingly to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement.
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May 6, 2011 |
Practice News
Michael R. Clancy has been appointed as a Circuit Judge of Cook County, Eleventh Subcircuit. This appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Edward P. O'Brien. It takes effect on May 27, 2011, and terminates on Dec. 3, 2012.
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May 5, 2011 |
ISBA News
John G. Locallo, president-elect of the Illinois State Bar Association (second from right) presents Dave Chiesa (second from left), a detective in the DuPage County Sheriff’s office, with the ISBA’s annual Law Enforcement Award at the DuPage County Bar Association’s (DCBA) annual Law Day Luncheon on Wednesday, May 4, at the Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton. Looking on are the detective’s nominees, Steven M. Ruffalo (left), the DCBA president, and DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin.
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May 4, 2011
State
- Illinois civil unions spark battle over adoption, Springfield State Journal-Register
- Witness: Blago wanted state job for wife, Chicago Tribune
Chicago area
- Prosecutors: Bragging on Facebook leads to charges, Chicago Tribune
Southern Illinois
- Chris Coleman declines to testify at his murder trial, Belleville News-Democrat
- Family of Sheri Coleman refiles wrongful-death case, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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May 3, 2011 |
Events
The Illinois Judges Foundation and its Lawyers Auxiliary Committee will hold their third annual spring reception from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19, in the Walnut Room of the Hotel Allegro, Chicago. Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court will speak, and Chicago attorney Gino L. DiVito, a retired appellate justice, will be honored during the program conducted by the foundation president, Cook County Judge Jesse G. Reyes. Proceeds from the reception will support Judge Harold Sullivan Law School Scholarships and other service projects that include mortgage foreclosure forums, the ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, the Second Chances Program, Chicago Access to Justice, and “Seven Reasons to Leave the Party” educational presentations in high schools. Tickets to the reception, at $100 per person, include hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Judges, law students, government and legal services attorneys may attend for $75 each. Reservations may be made by contacting the Illinois Judges Foundation office at (312) 554-2008 or khosty@chicagobar.org. Payments may be made via Pay Pal by visiting the web site, www.ijafoundation.org, and clicking on Future Events.
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May 3, 2011 |
Events
The Nordic Law Club will hold its annual Spring Smorgasbord (formerly the codfish dinner) on Wednesday, May 18, in the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark, Chicago. The program includes a guided tour of the museum’s immigration exhibits. The event will begin with a 5:30 p.m. reception (beer, wine, aquavit and herring provided), followed at 6:30 p.m. by a smorgasbord of Swedish meatballs, salmon, codfish, salad, potatoes, and rice pudding with lingonberries. Advance reservations at $60 per person must be made by May 13 with Treasurer David G. Clark, Canalia & Clark, Suite C, 419 Ridge Road, Munster, IN 46321, telephone (219) 836-0008. The Nordic Law Club also has announced resumption of its Lutfisk Open, a golf outing to fund scholarships, on Monday, August 22, at Mission Hills Country Club in Northbrook. Details will be announced.