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Illinois Supreme Court

  • January 20, 2011 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court disbars 4, suspends 17
    The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the filing of disciplinary orders involving a number of licensed lawyers. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law. More information on each case is available at the ARDC website.

    DISBARRED

    • Dave Ellis Compton, Chicago
    Mr. Compton, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred on consent. He pled guilty to bringing cannabis into a Cook County Criminal Court House detention area. He was suspended on an interim basis on July 9, 2010.
    • Forrest David Laidley, Libertyville
    Mr. Laidley, who was admitted in 1978, was disbarred on consent. He pled guilty in federal court to attempted mail fraud and bank fraud and was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison. He was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court on December 28, 2010.
    • Eric Tyrone Tolen, St. Louis, Mo.
    Mr. Tolen, who was licensed in 1986, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in Missouri on multiple counts of statutory sodomy and one count of victim tampering. He was sentenced to a 65-year term of imprisonment. Mr. Tolen was suspended on an interim basis on February 3, 2009.
    • Bradford Francis Wisniewski, Chicago
    Mr. Wisniewski, who was licensed in 1977, was disbarred. He misappropriated approximately $35,000 in client funds, neglected multiple client matters, failed to communicate with clients, did not return unearned fees and failed to cooperate with the ARDC. He did not appear at his disciplinary hearing.
  • December 9, 2010 | Practice News
    Kiley appointed Chair of Supreme Court Committee on Courtroom and Judicial Security
    The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Shelbyville Judge Michael P. Kiley as Chairperson of the Special Supreme Court Committee to Study Courtroom and Judicial Security.
  • November 1, 2010 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court announces vacancy in 6th Judicial Circuit
    Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Circuit Court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The at-large vacancy is created by the retirement of Circuit Judge Theodore E. Paine effective November 3, 2010. Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to final Court approval. The applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.
  • October 21, 2010 | Practice News
    Quick takes from Thursday, Oct. 21, Illinois Supreme Court opinions
    Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review today's Supreme Court opinions in JP Morgan Chase Bank v. Earth Foods, Ready v. United/Goedecke Services, Wright Development Group v. Walsh, In re Estate of Wilson, People v. Close, People v. Johnson and People v. Thompson.
  • October 19, 2010 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court appoints 3 to fill Cook County vacancies
    The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Mary S. Trew, Erica L. Reddick and James L. Kaplan to the office of Cook County Circuit Judge. Trew is replacing the retiring Hon. James R. Epstein. Reddick is replacing the Hon. Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird, who is retiring on Dec. 5, 2010. Kaplan is taking the position of the Hon. Melvin J. Cole, who is also retiring on Dec. 5. All three appointments are effecting through Dec. 3, 2012.
  • October 18, 2010 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court recalls 11 circuit court judges and 1 associate judge of Cook County
    The Illinois Supreme Court has recalled the following retired judges: Effective December 1, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2011:
    • Hon. Curtis Heaston
    Effective December 6, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2011:
    • Hon. Charles R. Winkler
    Effective December 1, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2011:
    • Hon. John B. Grogan
    Effective December 6, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2013:
    • Hon. Roger G. Fein
    • Hon. William J. Haddad
    • Hon. Sidney A. Jones III
    • Hon. Henry M. Singer
    • Hon. Rhoda D. Sweeney
    Extension effective immediately through November 30, 2013:
    • Hon. Sheldon A. Harris
    Effective December 6, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2013:
    • Hon. Michael Ian Bender
    • Hon. Nicholas Geanopoulos
    • Hon. Pamela M. Leeming
  • October 14, 2010 | Practice News
    Swanson appointed Circuit Judge of Cook County, at Large
    The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. as a Circuit Judge of Cook County, at Large on Wednesday. Swanson fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. John A. Ward. This appointment is effective Oct. 20, 2010 and terminates on Dec. 3, 2012.
  • October 7, 2010 | Events
    Luncheon to celebrate career of retiring Chief Justice Fitzgerald
    A special luncheon will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 3, to celebrate the distinguished career of retiring Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald. This event will start at 11:30 a.m. at the Chicago Hilton, 720 S. Michigan. Tickets are $60 a person. For reservations, contact Tamra Drees at (312) 554-2057 or tdrees@chicagobar.org Thomas R. Fitzgerald is a native Chicagoan and attended Loyola University before enlisting in the United States Navy. After his tour of duty in the Navy, he graduated with honors from The John Marshall Law School, where he was one of the founders of the school’s current law review and served as the law review's associate editor.
  • September 30, 2010 | Practice News
    Lawrence appointed circuit judge in 11th Judicial Circuit
    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Wednesday that Associate Judge Paul G. Lawrence has been appointed a circuit judge at-large in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Judge Lawrence was appointed to fill the Circuit Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Judge G. Michael Prall on November 2, 2010. The appointment is effective November 3, 2010 and will expire December 3, 2012. Justice Rita B. Garman recommended the appointment of Judge Lawrence after a review process by a special citizen screening committee. The committee unanimously recommended Judge Lawrence’s appointment to Justice Garman to fill the vacancy. Judge Lawrence graduated from University of Illinois in 1982 with a B.S. degree in Accounting. He received his juris doctor degree from University of Missouri in 1985. Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Lawrence practiced at the law firm of Lawrence, Moore and Ogar. He was appointed as an associate judge in the Eleventh Circuit in 2002, serving as a trial judge for over eight years until Wednesday’s appointment by the Supreme Court as a Circuit Judge. A resident of Bloomington, Judge Lawrence is married with five children. The Eleventh Judicial Circuit is comprised of five counties: Ford, Livingston, Logan, McLean and Woodford.
  • September 29, 2010 | Practice News
    Gross appointed associate judge in 20th Judicial Circuit
    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Eugene E. Gross received a majority of the votes cast by the circuit judges in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit and has been appointed to the office of associate judge. Mr. Gross received his undergraduate degree in 1980 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and his Juris Doctor in 1983 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Gross is currently affiliated with Reed, Heller, Mansfield & Gross in DuQuoin, Illinois