ISBA News

[caption id="attachment_13156" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA Immediate Past President John O’Brien presents a Board of Governors Award to Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald as ISBA President-elect John Locallo (left) and ISBA 3rd Vice President Paula Holderman look on."][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association presented a Board of Governors Award on Thursday to Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald at the Chief Justice's Chicago chambers. ISBA Immediate Past President John O'Brien made the presentation along with ISBA President-elect John Locallo and ISBA 3rd Vice President Paula Holderman. "I have always felt a real connection to the Illinois State Bar Association," Chief Justice Fitzgerald said. "This only helps confirm that." The Board of Governors Award is for the purpose of recognizing lawyers for exemplary service to the profession and/or the Association and for recognizing nonlawyers for especially meritorious deeds or service that significantly advance the administration of justice or the goals of the profession or the Association. Chief Justice Fitzgerald was also presented with a complete, four-volume set of hardcover books, The Papers of Abraham Lincoln. The set has been purchased for all 102 Illinois counties to help commemorate the Illinois Bicentennial celebration of Lincoln's birth.

[caption id="attachment_13007" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The ISBA Sunday Runners include: front row (left to right): Leonard Amari, Julia Beien, Fran LeBrasca, Donna Amari, Lupe Cerrillo, Roberta Conwell and Norden Gilbert; back row: Jack LaBrasca, Bob Downs, John Locallo, Samuel Levine, Marvin T. Keeling, Leonard DeFranco and Anthony Fornelli."][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association Sunday Runners will be participating in the upcoming Race Judicata on Thursday, July 22. The Runners are encouraging other ISBA members to join them at the race, which benefits the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation. ISBA members interested in joining the group at Race Judicata should contact Roberta C. Conwell at (708) 349-0161 or via email at rconwell1@comcast.net The runners (and walkers) meet before 8 a.m. each Saturday at the harbor boaters’ north parking lot, just south of the Addison Street-Lake Shore Drive totem pole. Lake Shore Drive access from the north is via the Irving Park Road exit. From the south, use the Recreation Drive exit north of Belmont. All able bodies are invited. The group has one rule: If you come, you come. No RSVP is needed.

The Illinois State Bar Association had its mobile billboard in the lineup of Sunday's Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade – one of more than 200 entries. Toby Eveland, of ISBA’s SOGI section, organized a group of lawyers and law students to march alongside the ISBA entry. Other SOGI members present included Mike Goldberg and Joannie Rae Wimmer. The parade entry was a collaborative effort between the ISBA, CBA, and LAGBAC (the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago). Additionally, members of Northwestern University's law school group, OUTLaw, marched with the float.

[caption id="attachment_12730" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier swears in Mark D. Hassakis as the ISBA's 134th President."][/caption] Mt. Vernon attorney Mark D. Hassakis was sworn in as the new Illinois State Bar Association President on Friday night at the Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Hassakis, the first Greek American president of the ISBA, joined his father’s firm after receiving his J.D. in 1976. The firm now concentrates in all types of injury and wrongful death cases, both work and non-work related. In addition, the firm represents clients at administrative hearings before the Secretary of State for driving relief in DUI and other excessive violation cases. Hassakis’ guiding theme for his 2010-2011 term will be “Lawyers Care,” demonstrating his pride in the profession and the extraordinary efforts lawyers make every day to go above and beyond in their service to their communities and the profession. He will spotlight examples of the beneficial role lawyers voluntarily undertake to help shape a brighter future for our state and its citizens. "ISBA lawyers and the heart of the ISBA, the Illinois Bar Foundation, will spotlight our lawyer and judge members giving well beyond the great professional work they do, highlighting the extraordinary effort being made in the communities in which we live," Hassakis said.