Northern Illinois

New attorneys were admitted to practice in Illinois on May 10, with Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices presiding and administering the attorney's oath to 401 new attorneys at five separate locations across the state. 

All of the candidates passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,500.

The largest group, 275, was admitted in the First Judicial District during three ceremonies at the James R. Thompson Center Assembly Hall, located at 100 W. Randolph St., in Chicago. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the first ceremony, Illinois Appellate Justice Cynthia Y. Cobbs presided over the second ceremony, and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis presided over the last ceremony.  

Joseph A. "Joe" Morrissey, died Monday, April 2, 2018. He was born August 16, 1929, to William R. and Aileen (Brady) Morrissey

Joe grew up a resilient and entrepreneurial young man during the Great Depression. Although the family had little, they were rich in faith and love. 

Joe attended St. Anne Elementary, graduating from Amboy High School in 1947, and St. Ambrose University in 1951. Following college, Joe served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force. After service, Joe studied law at the University of Illinois, obtaining his Juris Doctorate in 1958. Upon graduation, Joe worked in the State Farm claims department until 1964, after which Joe began a private law practice in Rockford, concentrating in personal injury claims for over 50 years.

New attorneys will be admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, May 10, with Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices presiding and administering the attorney's oath to 401 new attorneys at five separate locations across the state. 

All of the candidates set to be sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They will bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,500.

The largest group, 275, will be admitted in the First Judicial District during three ceremonies at the James R. Thompson Center Assembly Hall, located at 100 W. Randolph St., in Chicago. The ceremonies will be at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke will preside over the 9 a.m. ceremony, Illinois Appellate Justice Cynthia Y. Cobbs will preside over the 11:30 a.m. ceremony, and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis will preside over the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.  

Judge William R. "Bill" Penn died peacefully on Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

Born in Chicago to Frederick William (Bill) Penn (1971) and A. Marie (Moore) Penn (1976).

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert John Penn (2010); first ex-wife, Marilyn Penn (2002); stepson, Paul Sinchak (2007); and an infant twin brother of daughter, Laura at birth.

He is survived by his daughters, Laura J. Penn and Lee Ann Penn; and nephews, Matthew Penn and Jeffrey Penn.

Bill attended New Lenox Grade School, Joliet Township High School graduating with the Class of 1946, the University of Illinois, and John Marshall Law School. He passed the Illinois Bar Exam and began to practice law in Illinois in 1951. In December of 1951 he was drafted into the USMC during the Korean War and he was honorably discharged in December of 1953.