The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Chicago Area

  • July 24, 2009
    Courthouse tours: Illinois Supreme Court
    [caption id="attachment_2660" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Illinois Supreme Court building at 200 E. Capitol Ave., Springfield"][/caption] The Illinois Supreme Court building was completed in 1908. The first floor holds the offices for the clerk of the court. The courtroom used by the Illinois Supreme Court and an Appellate Courtroom are on the second floor. This floor also contains a law library. The third floor is closed to the public. It has living quarters that the justices use while they are in session. Address: 200 E. Capitol Avenue, Springfield Year built: 1908 Cost: $450,000 Architect: W. Carbys Zimmerman Click here to view our photo tour
  • July 23, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Thursday, July 23

    State

    Chicago area

    Southern Illinois

    Nation

  • July 23, 2009 | Practice News
    2 finalists named for associate judge vacancy in 18th Circuit
    Chief Circuit Judge Stephen Culliton has named two finalists for the Office of Associate Judge in the 18th Circuit Court in DuPage County. The finalists are seeking to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Judge Kenneth A. Abraham. The two finalists are:
    • Paul A. Marchese, DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney
    • Robert A. Miller, Chief Public Defender for DuPage County
    The Circuit Judges will select Marchese or Miller by secret ballot.
  • July 23, 2009 | ISBA News
    IBF Awards $8,000 grant to CLAIM in Chicago
    [caption id="attachment_2603" align="alignright" width="300" caption="IBF Grants Committee Member Lori Levin of Chicago presents an $8,000 grant to Gail Smith, CLAIM's Executive Director."][/caption] The Illinois Bar Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce a $8,000 grant to Chicago Legal Advocacy to Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM), one of 32 grants awarded this year totaling $304,995. CLAIM provides legal and educational services to imprisoned mothers and their children's caregivers. CLAIM's On-Site Services provide intensive individual legal advice and representation to mothers in Dwight, Lincoln, Decatur and Kankakee Correctional Centers, Fox Valley Adult Transitional Center, the Metropolitan Correctional Center and in Cook County Jail. With early legal advice, provision of short-term guardianship forms and representation for court-ordered guardianship, mothers can forge sound plans for their children and in many cases can avoid foster care placement. In 2008, CLAIM represented 450 women, up 38 percent from 2007.
  • July 22, 2009 | Events | ISBA News
    ISBA President John O'Brien off to the races on July 24
    [caption id="attachment_2624" align="alignright" width="150" caption="John O'Brien"][/caption] John O’Brien, newly-installed president of the Illinois State Bar Association, will be trotted up to the Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights this Friday, July 24, for a fete hosted jointly by the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (IRELA) and Northwest Suburban Bar Association (NWSBA) in celebration of his new post.  O’Brien was a founder of IRELA and serves as its board chair, and he is a long-time active member of the NWSBA. The sixth race will be called “The Flyin’ O’Brien,” and Johnny O will have his picture taken in the Winner’s Circle with the winning horse.  Reception is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the first race starting at 2:30 p.m.  The event will be held at the racetrack’s Million Room, 4th floor.  Cost to attend is $35 which includes admission to the track, program, hors d’oeuvres and open bar.  For reservations, call (847) 221-2601.
  • July 21, 2009 | Events
    Women's Bar Association to raise funds at Race Judicata 2009 Sprint for Justice
    Join Team WBAI on Thursday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m. for the Race Judicata 2009 Sprint for Justice 5K Run/Walk to benefit the programs of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation. This race event begins at Upper Hutchinson Field at Columbus & Balbo in Grant Park and loops participants along Lake Michigan and back, where they are greeted by a band and complimentary beer, wine and snacks. Please register under the team name "WBAI" to coordinate all participants. Click here to register. Contact Alia Caravelli with any questions about Team WBAI.
  • July 21, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Tuesday, July 21

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Northern Illinois

  • July 21, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA honored for Judicial Evaluations
    [caption id="attachment_2461" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien and Chief Judge Timothy Evans"][/caption] The Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area honored the Illinois State Bar Association for its work with Judicial Evaluations during its Installation Ceremony Thursday night. Timothy Evans, Chief Judge of Cook County Circuit Court, presented ISBA President John O'Brien with a plaque to recognize this service. Judge Evans also presented the ISBA's Joyce Williams with an honorary sculpture for her service spearheading this massive effort. The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening recently evaluated 264 candidates for 9 associate judge vacancies.
  • July 20, 2009 | Practice News
    Bloggers: be careful with product reviews, endorsements
    Soon to be released FTC guidelines will up the ante for bloggers who review or endorse products, according to Adam Snukal in the July 2009 issue of The Corporate Lawyer, newsletter of the ISBA's Section on Corporate Law. One change wrought by the new guidelines: a blogger who reviews a product will be deemed an "endorser." That means that, "should the blogger fail to verify (or request verification of) an advertiser’s substantiation with respect to any product claims, the advertiser can be subject to liability for false and unsubstantiated statements made through the blogger’s endorsement, and the blogger may also be subject to liability for the same unsubstantiated representations (intentional or unintentional) made in the course of his/her review (aka endorsement)." Read the article.
  • July 20, 2009 | ISBA News
    5 join Illinois State Bar Association's Board of Governors
    [caption id="attachment_2500" align="alignright" width="300" caption="New members of the ISBA Board of Governors include: Gina Arquilla, James McCluskey, Lisa Nyuli and Russell Scott"][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association's Board of Governors welcomed five new members at a meeting Friday in Chicago. The new members are: 3rd Vice President John E. Thies of Urbana, James M. McCluskey of Lisle, Lisa M. Nyuli of South Elgin and Russell K. Scott of Belleville. Gina Arquilla of Chicago was elected to fill the "under 37" Cook County seats. [caption id="attachment_2501" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Mauro Glorioso"][/caption] The Board elected Carl Draper of Springfield to serve as Secretary and Mauro Glorioso of Westchester as Treasurer. Other actions taken included approving two professional ethics opinions in accordance with the Illinois Supreme Court's New Rules of Professional Conduct.