Practice News

Effective January 1, 2011, the Illinois Supreme Court is letting unpublished Rule 23 orders be posted on its website, making them much more readily available to the public and the legal community. The orders still may not be cited as precedent (except, as under the earlier version of the rule, "to support contentions of double jeopardy, res judicata, collateral estoppel or law of the case" -- see more in a LawPulse item from the June IBJ). That will disappoint some folks. But at least Rules 23 orders will be easy to access. Lawyers should enthusiastically cheer this rule change. But there's something else in the revised rule that may be just as important. Maybe more important, because it affects published opinions as well as unpublished orders. It provides that "the clerks of the appellate court shall transmit an electronic copy of each opinion or order filed in his or her district to the webmaster of the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts' Web site on the day of filing." If I'm reading it right, that could remove the sometimes lengthy lag between the filing of an opinion and its posting on the Web. If that's the case, it's reason to cheer even louder.

Incumbent Timothy C. Evans was elected to his fourth three-year term as Cook County chief judge this afternoon in a vote of the Circuit Court judges. The final vote count was 174-82. Evans faced his first challenge as chief judge from Law Division Presiding Judge William D. Maddux.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier announced Monday that an application process has begun for a Circuit Court vacancy in Williamson County, First Judicial Circuit. The resident Circuit vacancy is being created by the announced resignation of Circuit Judge Ronald R. Eckiss, effective November 1, 2010. Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill interim judicial vacancies. Justice Karmeier uses an application, evaluation and interview process to make recommendations to the Court for vacancies in the Fifth Judicial District. Applicants must submit a cover letter with the Requested Information of an Applicant Form to: Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier Supreme Court of Illinois P.O. Box 266 Nashville, IL 62263 The form may be obtained from the office of Chief Judge Mark H. Clarke of the First Judicial Circuit in Cairo; or from Williamson County Circuit Clerk Stuart Hall; or from Resident Circuit Judges Ronald Eckiss and Phillip Palmer at the Williamson County Courthouse; or from the Williamson County Bar Association or from Justice Karmeier. Applicants' cover letter and completed form must be received in Justice Karmeier's office no later than Thursday, October 7, 2010. The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until the position is filled through the November 2012 General Election. The appointment will terminate December 3, 2012. To be eligible for appointment, a person must be a resident of Williamson County at the time of the appointment. Williamson County is one of nine counties in the First Judicial Circuit; the First Judicial Circuit is also comprised of the southern Illinois counties of Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline and Union.

By Gerald S. Schur As in every legal endeavor, a major factor in achieving success is preparation. Many articles and organizations stress financial planning, but few address satisfaction in retirement. Most happy retirees started planning their principal post-retirement activities at least a few years before taking the retirement plunge, as did this author. Lawyers are in a unique position to plan for a satisfying retirement, particularly those involved in bar associations and civic activities. As an example, your author was active during his career in several bar associations, including the ISBA, a field of law specialty association, a local bar association and an ethnic bar association, and continues to be active in those associations after retirement. Continued involvement in bar activities keeps your mind focused on legal issues and the promotion of the legal profession and improvement of the reputation of attorneys in the community. As an added benefit, most of the associations offer reduced dues following retirement in accordance with ARDC criteria. Many bar associations reach out to the public, and such particular activities provide retired attorneys with the opportunity to volunteer their legal or social services. Many social organizations seek educated individuals to mentor and teach young people and adults. Retired lawyers are excellent candidates to provide desperately needed volunteers to help segments of the population whose lives can be improved by these services. Your author answered a plea in a bar association publication for tutor/mentors for inner-city youths.