[caption id="attachment_12408" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien, honoree Ralph DeBartolo and ISBA Board of Governors member Jim Morici"][/caption]
ISBA President John G. O’Brien presented the Law Enforcement Award to Ralph DeBartolo on May 27 at the 3rd District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows. DeBartolo is chief of the Cook County Sheriff's Department's Office of Court Services. This 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. The award is given sparingly to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement.
Chief DeBartolo is receiving the award for his tireless efforts to improve security measures and emergency procedures in the Rolling Meadows courthouse, as well as his volunteer efforts to help increase awareness and respect for the local Italian-American community.
Since joining the Sheriff’s Office in 1989, he has distinguished himself in providing safety and security for local judges, court personnel, inmates and the public. He streamlined operations and significantly increased the collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office and the legal community.
DeBartolo was one of the founding officers of the Italian-American Police Officers Association and has served as its chairman and president.
Chicago Area
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June 21, 2010 |
ISBA News
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June 21, 2010
Chicago area
- Judge orders sex offender to wear GPS device, Chicago Tribune
- Defense, judge could butt heads again in Blago trial, Chicago Tribune
- Court approves Smurfit Stone's reorganization plan; expects to exit bankruptcy by end of June, Chicago Business
- Burge asked why he named his boat "Vigilante", Chicago Tribune
SCOTUS
- High Court upholds anti-terror law, Law.com
- 9th Circuit has a bad day in the Supreme Court, ABA Journal
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June 21, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_12456" align="alignright" width="133" caption="Douglas F. Spesia"][/caption] Douglas Frank Spesia died peacefully at his home on Friday after a 10-year battle with prostate cancer. He was born October 11, 1940 in Joliet. Mr. Spesia graduated from the University of Illinois and the University of Notre Dame Law School. He was a proud member of Joliet's first all-star team which played in the 1953 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. On June 12, 1965, he married Loretta Wiesbrook and joined the oldest law firm in Joliet, which is now Spesia & Ayers. He had a distinguished and rewarding 45-year career as an attorney, and spent his adult life involved in the Cathedral of St. Raymond parish. An active volunteer, he served on the boards of many organizations including: President of the Joliet Montessori School Board, past President of the Will County Bar Association, President of the Joliet Rotary Club and host of exchange students, founding member of the Will County Community Foundation, and a committed supporter of Catholic Charities' Daybreak Shelter. An avid reader whose wide range of interests led to a life of incredible travel -- from family camping across the United States and Canada to world-wide trips with dear friends that covered six continents.
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June 18, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_12418" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Gina Arquilla DeBoni"][/caption] Gina Arquilla DeBoni has joined the law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, as a managing attorney. Romanucci & Blandin provides clients with experienced and skilled representation in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and workers’ compensation claims. DeBoni, who is an elected member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Board of Governors, has chaired several fundraisers for the ISBA’s Young Lawyers Division, raising thousands of dollars for the Children’s Assistance Fund. She was the YLD chair in 2008-09. She recently completed a three-year term on the ABA’s House of Delegates, and is the ABA Young Lawyers Division District 15 representative, where she coordinates legal services in the event of a disaster. She is also active in the Justinian Society of Lawyers and a board member of the Italian American Political Coalition. DeBoni has been named twice as a “Rising Star” in the field of law by Chicago magazine. She received her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2002 and her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1997. Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, is located at 33 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60602, contact www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.
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June 18, 2010 |
Events
Race Judicata Sprint for Justice will be held in Grant Park on July 22. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. and the runners race begins at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds go to the general operating costs of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. Click here to register.
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June 16, 2010
Chicago area
- Witness sheds light on pension deal linking Blago insiders, Chicago Tribune
- Plea deal ends teen's trial in killing of Buffalo Grove High student in 2006, Daily Herald
- $75,000 bail for gang member accused of trying to intimidate jurors, Chicago Tribune
Southern Illinois
- Former ESL liquor commissioner pleads guilty to extortion, lying to FBI, IRS, Belleville News-Democrat
Nation
This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day. -
June 15, 2010
Chicago area
- Cook board lets suburbs opt out of red light cameras, Daily Herald
- Blagojevich defense attacking Monk's credibility, Chicago Sun-Times
- Witness: Burge put gun to my head and spun chamber, Chicago Tribune
- Judge tosses trustee's suit against Gurnee, Daily Herald
- Sara Lee sued by Nestle over Nespresso system, Chicago Business
Nation
This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day. -
June 15, 2010 |
ISBA News
"Dealing with Debt Collectors & Relief Scams" and "Medical Malpractice: Start to Finish," half-hour programs presented by the Illinois State Bar Association, will air on Chicago Access Network Television, Channel 21, on Illinois Law in June. "Dealing with Debt Collectors & Relief Scams" will air on Tuesdays, June 15 and June 29 at 10 p.m. This program focuses on avoiding debt relief scams and how to deal with debt collectors. "Medical Malpractice" will air on Tuesday, June 22 at 10 p.m. Appearing on the show will be: program moderator Sam Kavathas of Kavathas & Castenes; Karen M. Enright of Winters Enright Salzetti & O’Brien, LLC; Judge Elizabeth Budzinski, Cook County Circuit Court; and Ronald W. Kalish of Steinberg Goodman & Kalish. “Illinois Law” is a cable production of the ISBA. The 35,000-member organization, with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to Illinois lawyers, and education and services to the public.
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June 14, 2010
Central Illinois
- Bank sues farmer over Towando Grain Co. money, Bloomington Pantagraph
Chicago area
- Tape: Blago and alleged shakedown, Chicago Tribune
- Algonquin man gets probation, hefty fine for growing pot indoors, Daily Herald
SCOTUS
This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day. -
June 11, 2010 |
People
Three attorneys were installed June 8 as officers of the prestigious, 131-year-old Union League Club of Chicago. The new president is James J. Gatziolis, a founding partner of the Chicago office of Quarles & Brady. A 1973 graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law and a certified public accountant, he has chaired several ULCC committees and is a trustee of its Boys & Girls Clubs. Serving as first vice president is Robert M. Karton of Robert M. Karton Ltd, a 1965 graduate of the DePaul University College of Law. A former assistant state’s attorney, he has been in private civil practice since 1968 and is Great Lakes Region legal officer of the Civil Air Patrol. Guy N. Maras, a partner with Hennessy & Roach in workers’ compensation, was elected to his second term as club secretary. A 1995 graduate of The John Marshall Law School and former editor of its Journal of Computer and Information Law, he has a master’s degree in public policy from DePaul.
