Southern Illinois

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Eugene E. Gross received a majority of the votes cast by the circuit judges in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit and has been appointed to the office of associate judge. Mr. Gross received his undergraduate degree in 1980 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and his Juris Doctor in 1983 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Gross is currently affiliated with Reed, Heller, Mansfield & Gross in DuQuoin, Illinois

State

• ACLU sues state police over intelligence gathering, Chicago Tribune

Chicago area

• As the recession squeezes the legal industry, Big Law's castaways are starting fresh with their own firms, Chicago Business
• St. Charles alderman wants statements to police thrown out, Daily Herald

Southern Illinois

• Ex-trooper convicted in double fatal crash wants money for his injuries, Belleville News-Democrat

This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day. More Daily Legal News available at www.isba.org/dailylegalnews

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.

The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday appointed Associate Judge Michael N. Cook to fill the Circuit Court vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Annette A. Eckert, resident Circuit Judge of St. Clair County in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. The appointment, made upon the recommendation of Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, is effective October 1, 2010. Judge Cook has served as an associate judge since 2007. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he served as an associate with the Belleville law firm of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin; he was also an assistant public defender for St. Clair County. Judge Cook graduated in 1999 with a juris doctor degree from the University of Tulsa. While there, he served on the Board of Advocates and in the Elder Law Legal Clinic. He graduated in 1994 with a bachelor of science degree in anthropology from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. His is a member of the St. Clair County Bar Association and currently serves as its first vice-president. In addition, Judge Cook also serves as chairman of the paralegal scholarship program at Southwestern Illinois College. Judge Cook is the only candidate seeking to succeed Judge Eckert, and will be unopposed on the November ballot.