[caption id="attachment_7249" align="alignright" width="242" caption="Ed and Debra Downs"][/caption]
Longtime criminal defense attorney Ed Downs has received the Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.
The presentation was made in December.
Dave Corbett of NWSBA cited Downs as being among "the top shelf of practitioners, a giant among us. Downs is a familiar sight at 26th and California," Corbett said, referring to the criminal courts building for the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Corbett called the courthouse "sacred ground," adding that it provides a challenging environment for defense attorneys.
"His self-effacing manner belies his greatness," Corbett said. "He is a role model to many. Among brilliant trial lawyers, Ed Downs is top shelf. He's a giant among us."
He has fought for the rights of all, Corbett said of Downs, adding, "I can't think of a more fitting recipient for this honor."
In accepting the award, Downs exhibited the self-effacing manner to which Corbett had referred. Mentioning he had found law school hard, he told attendees, "I'm not that smart." It was a statement with which many would disagree.
He earned degrees from Wright Junior College, Loyola University School of Business and Loyola University Graduate School of Industrial Relations, balancing classwork during many of those years with a job as a letter carrier.
People
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January 11, 2010 |
People
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January 7, 2010 |
People
Rep. Louis I. Lang, Deputy Majority House Leader, has joined Querrey & Harrow and its municipal liability practice group as Of Counsel. Rep. Lang also handles commercial litigation and planning and development issues for public entities. Rep. Lang has served the 16th House District of Illinois (including Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, a part of the 49th and most of the 50th Wards in Chicago) and the Illinois Legislature for more than 20 years. Rep. Lang obtained his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Illinois and his law degree from DePaul University. "We are honored to have Rep. Lang aboard," says Michael Stillman, Managing Shareholder of the firm. "His perspective provides added value for municipal clients as well as our business clients with regard to regulatory issues in Illinois." Querrey & Harrow is a 70-attorney multi-service law firm with offices throughout greater metropolitan Chicago, and in Merrillville, Ind.
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January 5, 2010 |
People
James C. Chiakulas, 69, of Chicago, passed away last month on the North Side. Mt. Chiakulas was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from John Marshall Law School. A lawyer and union leader, Mr. Chiakulas fought to improve the working conditions of teachers across the Chicago area. He headed a group that advocated for Greeks living under Turkish rule on the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus. He was an accomplished jazz musician, said his son-in-law, Paul Chronis. Read the full obituary in the Chicago Tribune
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January 5, 2010 |
People
Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald swore in Matthew Beaudet as President of the Illinois Native American Bar Association during the ISBA/IJA Joint Meeting last month in Chicago. INABA is a bar association for Native Americans and those interested in legal issues affecting Native Americans. Photo: Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald swears in Matthew Beaudet as President of the Illinois Native American Bar Association as other INABA officers and board members look on.
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January 5, 2010 |
People
Elizabeth Kutyla-Miner passed away after a six and a half year battle with ovarian cancer on Dec. 21. Liz graduated from the University of Chicago in 1984 and from the University of Chicago School of Law in 1987. She held positions for two major law firms before finding her calling in 1994 as Associate General Counsel, then General Counsel of Barton Brands. During her 14-year tenure at Barton, Liz guided the company through many successful acquistions. Read the full obituary at Legacy.com.
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December 30, 2009 |
People
Longtime Peoria lawyer Sidney D. Davidson passed away on Sunday, Dec. 28, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Mr. Davidson graduated from Manual High School and Bradley University. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois in 1939. He served in the Pacific during World War II, including stints at General MacArthur's headquarters in Manila and Tokyo. He was an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, serving as a member of its Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section Council. Click here to read the full obituary in the Post-Bulletin.
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December 29, 2009 |
People
Elmore Boeger, 95, has died of congestive heart failure at Bridgeway Christian Village in Bensenville. Mr. Boeger was born and raised in Hillside. Mr. Boeger graduated from Proviso High School in 1932 and received his undergraduate and law degrees from Valparaiso University. He joined his father's Chicago law firm in 1938. Mr. Boeger may be best known for coming up with the name Triton College as a way to acknowledge the three west Cook County high school districts that came together to create the near west suburban junior college. Mr. Boeger was on Triton's board for the River Grove school's first dozen years and liked the sound of Triton, said his son, Milton. Click here to read the full obituary in the Chicago Tribune
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December 28, 2009 |
Events | People
The Chicago Alumni Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity recently awarded $5,000 in scholarships to students from several Chicago-area law schools. The scholarships, named in honor of former Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel P. Ward, recognize students who have outstanding records of academic excellence and community service, in furtherance of the fraternity's mission of service to the profession and the public. Photo: Phi Alpha Delta Chicago Alumni Chapter Justice Michele Jochner (far left) congratulates the recipients of the Chapter's Justice Daniel P. Ward Scholarship. Seated left to right: Natalie Lange (Dooley Chapter - Northern Illinois University Law School), Desiree Lauricella (Lincoln Chapter - The John Marshall Law School). Standing: Michele Jochner, Daniel Powell (Lincoln Chapter), Michelle Reed (Webster Chapter - Loyola University School of Law), Patrick Callahan (Story Chapter - DePaul University College of Law), and Sean Corsini (Lincoln Chapter).
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December 18, 2009 |
People
[caption id="attachment_6779" align="alignright" width="220" caption="Allen Lolie thanks outgoing president Tom Brown of Livingston County."][/caption] Shelby County State's Attorney Allan Lolie was elected President of the Illinois State's Attorneys Association earlier this month at the association's winter meeting. Lolie is in his third term as the Shelby County State's Attorney and his 18th year as a prosecutor. "I intend to work with the Association and the Legislature to promote legislation that will assist law enforcement in our endeavor to keep our communities safe," Lolie said.
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December 17, 2009 |
People
Streator attorney Richard J. Berry, 57, died in a two-vehicle crash last night. Berry was first licensed to practice law in Illinois in 1977 and has been with the firm of Myers, Berry, O'Conor & Kuzma, which has offices in Streator and Ottawa. Berry's firm issued a statement expressing their sense of loss on Thursday morning. "The firm of Myers, Berry, O'Conor & Kuzma, Ltd. has lost a valued partner and friend in Richard J. Berry. Mr. Berry was a vigorous litigator dedicated to upholding the rights and interests of his clients. He will be missed, as will the passion he brought to all he did." Click here to read the obituary in the Ottawa Times.
