Asked and Answered 

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q. I am the financial partner with our 16-attorney firm in Indianapolis. The firm has had a rough couple of years. We had several partners leave the firm and they took several corporate clients with them. Unfortunately, this was consistent retainer and time bill work. While we still have some retainer and time bill corporate work, a much larger mix of our work is now contingency fee work. As a result, we have had some cash flow challenges and for the first three months of this year there was no money to pay partner draws. We have a credit line with the bank of $125,000 that we have not used. We only use our credit line for long-term equipment purchases. We would appreciate any suggestions that you have.

The names of 16 new associate judges, selected in a vote of Cook County Circuit Court judges, were announced today by Marcia M. Meis, director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. With respect to the 17th vacancy, a tie prevents a winner from being declared. As such, a runoff is necessary.

Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 39, "[where] a tie prevents a winner from being declared, reballoting shall proceed in the manner provided above for the first balloting except that ballots shall include only the names of those candidates whose tied voted prevented a winner from being declared." Consistent with the rule, the following candidates will be placed on the runoff ballot:

• Levander Smith Jr. 
• James Adolph Wright

Ballots listing the names of 34 finalists, chosen from 272 candidates, were distributed to 252 circuit judges. Ballots were due May 16, 2018.

Back by popular demand! Join us June 29 in O’Fallon for this unique opportunity to learn about all aspects of federal civil practice from seven federal judges and several experienced attorneys on topics ranging from important pleading requirements to trial preparation and settlement negotiations. Attorneys with all levels of experience practicing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois who attend this seminar will gain a better understanding of: recent developments in federal jurisdiction; pitfalls to avoid and procedures to follow; how to manage the costs and burdens of discovery while uncovering key evidence; the bench’s perspective on federal civil practice; jury instructions and pre-trial orders; settlement conferences and the procedures for a successful mediation; and much more.

Justice Charles E. Freeman, the first African-American to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court and as Chief Justice, will retire June 14.

Justice Freeman, 84, is the fifth-longest serving justice in Illinois Supreme Court history at 27 years, six months.

The Supreme Court has constitutional authority to fill interim judicial vacancies and has appointed Appellate Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., to fill Justice Freeman's seat, effective June 15 through Dec. 7, 2020. Justice Neville has been a member of the First District Appellate Court since 2004, and a judge since 2000. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Carl Anthony Walker has been assigned to the First District Appellate Court until further order of the Court. Appellate Court Justice Michael B. Hyman was also reassigned to an Appellate Court seat effective until Dec. 7, 2020.

Born in Richmond, Va., Justice Freeman descended from slaves freed by Quakers before the American Civil War. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Union University in 1954 and a law degree from the John Marshall Law School in 1962. 

He also served as an Illinois assistant attorney general, Cook County assistant state's attorney, and assistant attorney for the County Board of Election Commissioners. He was an arbitrator with the Illinois Industrial Commission and he later served on the Illinois Commerce Commission.

John J. Horeled, 66, of Crystal Lake and a lifelong resident of McHenry County, died Thursday, May 3, 2018. He was born November 1, 1951, in Harvard to Joseph and Helen (nee Keeley) Horeled. 

John graduated from Marion Central High School in 1969. He later graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in economics in 1973. John then graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1976. John practiced law in McHenry County for over 42 years. He was involved in the Illinois State Bar Association for 40 years and was also involved in several section councils and task forces. 

Asked and Answered 

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q. We have a 16-attorney firm in Chicago. Our marketing committee has been discussing implementing a client survey program. We are not sure where to start or how best to collect and report the data. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

A high-quality reproduction of a famous Abraham Lincoln photograph was unveiled May 15 at a ceremony at the St. Clair County Courthouse.

The photograph was taken in Springfield by well-known photographer Alexander Hesler for Lincoln’s 1860 presidential campaign. It is considered to be one of the best taken of Lincoln during his pre-presidential years.

The permanent installation is made possible by donations from the Illinois Judges Association (IJA), the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and their respective foundations – the Illinois Judges Foundation and the Illinois Bar Foundation. 

Back by popular demand! Don’t miss the 6th Annual Minority Bar CLE Conference, held June 20-21 in Chicago. Enhance your knowledge about an array of key issues, including how unrepresented litigants are hindered in their access to justice and what is being done to rectify this issue; how in-house and outside counsel can partner to promote diversity; the immigration law issues every employment lawyer should be aware of; the current immigration climate and the efforts being made to recruit minority attorneys and foreign talent; how to handle the loss of capacity in a client, as well as the pitfalls you can avoid or mitigate; the intersection of real estate issues with other practice areas; the role of the bench and bar in serving diverse litigants and what can be done to ensure that justice is blind; and how to prepare for law firm partnership.