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Northern Illinois

  • November 10, 2009 | People
    Frost joins Wimbiscus Law Firm
    Attorney Jacob J. Frost has joined Wimbiscus Law Firm, Spring Valley. Frost practices in the areas of estate/trust administration, residential and commercial real estate purchases and sales, business organizations, governmental law, and wills and trusts. Attorney Frost has served and represents clients in the Illinois Valley area. Frost earned his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law, with high honors in Legal Research and Writing. He received his Associate of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Illinois Valley Community College and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was admitted to both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Theta Kappa academic honor societies. Attorney Frost is a member in good standing of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). In addition, he has recently been re-appointed to the ISBA Trusts & Estates Section Council, a state-wide organization whose purpose is to propose and review new legislation impacting estate planning and administration in the state of Illinois. Frost is active in the Ottawa Sunrise Rotary Club, the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Valley Estate Planning Council. He resides in Ottawa with his wife, Chrissie, a veterinarian. He can be reached via phone at (815) 664-4151, fax at (815) 663-4351, or email at frost.wjwlaw@gmail.com or wjwlaw@comcast.net .
  • November 9, 2009 | Events
    Stuart Lefstein's speech at Moline admissions ceremony

    LINCOLN:  OUR ILLINOIS LAWYER - PRESIDENT

    By Stuart Lefstein Justice Kilbride - Thank you so much for inviting me here today and for your kind introduction. Justice Lytton, Chief Judge O'Connor, Judge Vespa, Honorable Justices of the Appellate Court, Honorable Judges of the Circuit Court, President O'Brien of the Illinois State Bar Association, and most distinguished honorees - my soon to be fellow Illinois "attorneys and counselors at law" - a phrase that is inscribed on the licenses you will receive today -families of the honorees, friends and other guests: When Justice Kilbride asked me to say a few words on this occasion, I was delighted to say "yes."  As an old man, I enjoy being in the company of young lawyers.  I also don't say "no" to the Supreme Court, unless it's the correct answer to a question from the bench during oral argument. But the problem with accepting invitations like this is that when you are up here you have to say something!  What is there left to say to a group of young lawyers who have already sat through commencement speeches at high school, college and most recently, law school graduations?  In the few minutes I have, I doubt if I could be very helpful in telling you how to practice law or handle whatever other employment you might choose.  Also, and sadly, I lack a blueprint for what young lawyers need to do in order to successfully navigate these very difficult economic times. So I am departing today from the conventional words of wisdom that are usually imparted on occasions like this. Because you are about to be sworn in as Illinois lawyers, I thought it might be appropriate to briefly reflect on the most revered lawyer that ever practiced in our state - particularly this year - this year because February 12th marked his 200th birthday - so to borrow a line from his most famous speech, "It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this."  That speech, of course, was given at Gettysburg 146 years ago this month, and the small town Illinois prairie lawyer who gave it was, as we all know, President Abraham Lincoln.
  • November 4, 2009 | Practice News
    Ogle County to begin unprecedented outreach for juvenile offenders
    Juveniles running into trouble with the law in Ogle County are finding law enforcement and probation officers coming to their assistance. Members of the Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council announced Tuesday that they have signed an agreement that ensures juvenile offenders will undergo a professional assessment at an early stage of their contact with the justice system, which will offer the youth a chance to get needed services as quickly as possible. "The new procedure benefits the entire community, not just those juveniles with behavioral problems," said Ogle County State's Attorney John B. "Ben" Roe.  "By identifying issues that contribute to delinquent acts and intervening early, we have a better chance of changing young lives for the better, and at far less cost than if the behaviors don't change, more crimes are committed and the young people are sent away to expensive prisons.  It saves young lives and enhances public safety." Information received from the assessment of each juvenile helps determine whether the youth could benefit from a variety of services, including mental health therapy, treatment for drug addictions and family counseling. Because information gained from the assessment is not shared with prosecutors, county probation officials can help counsel juveniles without violating any of their rights, and the juveniles can talk frankly without fear of self-incrimination. "As a juvenile justice system in Ogle County, we are committed to working together for the best interest of the delinquent minor, while ensuring community safety and promoting personal responsibility for one's actions," said Associate Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Kauffmann, who is assigned to the juvenile court.  "This is what the statute requires of us and is also the best future crime prevention measure. "Assessing service needs and providing those services at the earliest possible entry point will ensure the best possible outcome for both the minor child and our community," she continued.  "These services will assist the minor child in addressing the reasons for their delinquent behavior, while helping them to understand the necessity of taking responsibility for their actions.  We are working toward behavior change, so that the delinquent behavior will not be repeated and the victim can be made whole." Ogle County is one of five Models for Change demonstration sites in Illinois.
  • October 20, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Tuesday, October 20

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Northern Illinois

    Southern Illinois

  • October 19, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Monday, October 19

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Northern Illinois

    Southern Illinois

  • October 15, 2009 | Practice News
    Chickris named associate judge in 14th Judicial Circuit
    Cynthia Y. Cobbs, Director of Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the judges in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit voted to select Greg G. Chickris as an associate judge. Mr. Chickris received his undergraduate degree in 1972 from Western Illinois University and his J.D. in 1976 from DePaul University. Mr. Chickris has been engaged in solo practice in East Moline.
  • October 6, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Tuesday, October 6

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Northern Illinois

    Southern Illinois

  • October 5, 2009 | Practice News
    Associate Judge appointed in Sixteenth Judicial Circuit
    Cynthia Y. Cobbs, director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Melissa S. Barnhart as an associate judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. Ms. Barnhart received her undergraduate degree in 1982 from Illinois State University and her J.D. in 1986 from the John Marshal Law School. Ms. Barnhart had been affiliated with Pilmer & Barnhart in Yorkville.
  • October 2, 2009 | People
    Edward J. Enichen 1929-2009
    Edward J. Enichen, 79, of Rockford died Sunday, Sept. 20, after a brief illness. Enichen was born Oct. 14, 1929 in Dixon, the son of Frederick and Louise (Mueller) Enichen. Enichen was an active attorney for nearly 55 years with the Rockford law firm of Guyer and Enichen, P.C. He was  a man who not only saw life as a cup full, but his cup was brimming over. His warm, joyful personality drew people to him like a magnet. He will always be remembered for his ready smile and easy laugh. He was a talented storyteller with a great sense of humor, who easily embellished a tale to make it funny. Besides his long legal career, Enichen gave service to many local community organizations. He was also connected to the land and loved spending time on his beloved farm in Durand and at his cabin on the pristine Brule River in Wisconsin. He loved hunting and fishing and the that camaraderie that came with it. There are many distinguished photos of Ed, but in the vast majority of his photographs, he is holding a fish. Survivors include his children, Peter Enichen of Boulder, Colo.; Jamie (Stephen) Malato and Julie Enichen, both of Chicago; the mother of his children, Alice Enichen; grandchildren, Grace and Samuel Malato and Ellie Enichen; special friend, Beverly O'Keefe; sister, Charlene Vaughn; and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Natural Land Institute, 320 S. Third, Rockford, IL, 61104; Rockford Park District Foundation, 401 S. Main St., Rockford, IL, 61101 or the Rockford Symphony Orchestra Foundation, 711 N. Main, Rockford, IL, 61103. Visit the obituary on the Rockford Register Star
  • September 30, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Wednesday, September 30

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Northern Illinois

    Southern Illinois