Northern Illinois

The Hon. Thomas R. Flood, 83, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, passed away Monday at Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Fla. Thomas, the son of the late James and Florence Flood, was born in Red Oak, Iowa, on Jan. 27, 1926. He moved to Maywood in 1936, and graduated from Proviso High School in 1944. Judge Flood attended the University of Notre Dame as a member of the V12 program and received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1949. He received his license to practice law in the State of Illinois in 1949. As a member of the United States Navy, Judge Flood served his country during World War II in the Pacific Theater and in Japan. Recalled to the Navy in 1951, he served as a lieutenant aboard the USS Mt. McKinley in the Korean Conflict and was later assigned to the Judge Advocate General staff until his discharge in 1953. Judge Flood began his law career as corporate counsel for the Aurora and Elgin Railway Company in Elmhurst. In 1955, he moved to Streator and became associated with the law office of Daniel McMullen. In 1957, he opened his own practice in Streator as well as serving as a special prosecutor for the LaSalle County State's Attorney and as City Attorney for the City of Streator. Judge Flood was appointed to the bench as a circuit judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in LaSalle County in March of 1973 where he served until his retirement in 1990. Upon retirement, Judge Flood relocated to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., building a home at the PGA National Golf Club. He was an avid golfer. He also enjoyed competitive bridge, square dancing and the Chicago Bears. Judge Flood married Theresa (Gore) Flood on February 11, 1950, in Elmhurst. He is survived by his beloved wife, his son J.D.

State

• AG adds staff, contacts on open records law, Springfield State Journal-Register
• Candidate files for injunction against Thomson prison transfer, Daily Herald

Central Illinois

• Local bankruptcy filings rise in 2009, Springfield State Journal-Register

Chicago area

• The Professor and the Prosecutor: Anita Alvarez's office turns up the heat on David Protess' Medill Innocence Project, Chicago Magazine
• Church leader sued over Frankfort mansion deal, Chicago Tribune
• Deloitte & Touche wins lawsuit against former Chicago-based executive, Chicago Business

Northern Illinois

• Jury selection begins in Reid murder trial, Quad-City Times

Southern Illinois

• Martins tried to hire two people for murder, documents allege, The Southern

This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.

State

• AG Madigan decries mortgage broker kickbacks, Madison/St. Clair Record

Chicago area

• Law outlook: Bye-bye billable hour?, Chicago Tribune
• Lake Co. sheriff candidate sued four times for civil rights violations, Daily Herald
• Not guilty plea from Elgin man accused of setting wife on fire, Chicago Tribune

Northern Illinois

• Energy co-op looks at options on lawsuit dismissal, Rockford Register Star

Nation

• St. Louis court clerk to fight state effort to limit his authority to hire, fire, Belleville News-Democrat
• Birth mother loses child custody to former lesbian partner, Chicago Sun-Times

This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.

State

• Illinois Supreme Court delays ruling on med-mal caps, Chicago Business

Central Illinois

• Grand jury refuses to indict UIS students for hate crime, Springfield State Journal-Register

Chicago area

• Court dismisses Will Co. smoking charges, Chicago Sun-Times

Northern Illinois

• Life sentences given to Rock Island men guilty of murder, Quad-City Times

Southern Illinois

• Shelton found not guilty of kicking nurse's aid in the head, spitting on deputy, Belleville News-Democrat