The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that 376 of the 384 Illinois associate judges who filed requests for reappointment to their office for a new four-year term have been retained. Having certified the results of more than 466 total ballots cast in Illinois’ twenty-four circuit courts. Director Tardy informed that each successfiul candidate received votes that tallied three-fifths or greater in favor of their reappointment. Five associate judges in the Third Judicial Circuit, one in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, one in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and one in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit did not receive the requisite number of votes for reappointment. The new term of office for each reappointed associate judge will begin on July 1, 2015 and terminate on June 30, 2019.

Pursuant to Illinois’ Constitution, associate judges serve a term of office of four years. The Illinois Constitution vests in the Supreme Court the authority to provide, by rule, for the associate judges appointment process in Illinois. With the adoption of Supreme Court Rule 39 in 1971, the quadrennial reappointment election of associate judges is accomplished through the casting of secret ballots by circuit court judges eligible to vote. The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts administers all associate judge elections on behalf of the Supreme Court. The 2015 quadrennial reappointment election is the eleventh reappointment election since the 1970 amendments to the judicial article of the Illinois Constitution.

44 law firms and corporations named to PILI’s Pro Bono Recognition Roster

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) will host its Annual Pro Bono Reception next week on Wednesday, June 17th at The Ivy Room at Tree Studios. This event, sponsored by 38 Illinois law firms and corporations, is held each year to celebrate the pro bono triumphs of the Illinois legal community and to spotlight the critically-needed pro bono work being done in our state, including the work of PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative Program.

Want to get text messages into evidence? Be sure to lay a good foundation, Mike Lied warns in the most recent issue of Trial Briefs, newsletter of the ISBA's civil practice section. He reviews People v. Watkins, where the third district held that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting text messages despite the defendant's objection.

"The only evidence presented by the state to authenticate the text messages was (1) the cell phone was found in the same house as Watkins, and (2) some of the messages referred to, or were directed at, a person" with the same first name as the defendant, Lied writes. "In the appeals court’s opinion that evidence was not sufficient to properly authenticate the text messages as being sent to Watkins."

Also, "there were no cell phone records to indicate that the phone belonged to or had been used by Watkins or anyone else at the residence," Lied observes. "There was no eyewitness testimony to indicate that the phone belonged to or had been used by Watkins or that the messages were sent to Watkins."

As for the police officer who found the phone, his testimony "was not sufficient to authenticate the text messages because [he] had no personal knowledge of the text messages and had no idea who was the owner or user of the cell phone," Lied writes. Read his article and find out more.

The Illinois State Bar Association organizes an admission ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court every two years. ISBA President Richard D. Felice made the motion to admit the group of ISBA members before Chief Justice John Roberts on June 8.

Sangamon County First Assistant State’s attorney Karen Tharp has been appointed as Associate Judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Sangamon County. Tharp has been the First Assistant State Attorney of Sangamon County since 2014. Tharp, who will take office in early July, replaces Judge April Troemper who was recently appointed to be a Circuit Judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit.

Tharp brings to the bench over 26 years of legal experience, Presiding Judge John Belz, who has presided over many jury trials in which Tharp was an attorney, said "Karen Tharp has a long and distinguished record as a trial lawyer in Sangamon County that will serve her well on the bench. She is generally recognized as one of the hardest working and most dedicated attorneys in Sangamon County.”

Tharp is a 1980 graduate of Springfield High School and attended then Sangamon State University where she obtained her undergraduate degree in legal studies. She obtained her law degree in 1988 from the University of Illinois law school where she graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors.

Tharp, 53, has been a lifelong resident of Springfield, Tharp is a member of the Sangamon County Drug Court Treatment Team, participates in the Sangamon County Juvenile Justice Council and a Board member of Calvary Academy.

Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Wednesday that the Twelfth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Elizabeth D. Hoskins Dow and Kenneth L. Zelazo as associate judges of the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Hoskins Dow received her undergraduate degree in 1989 from the Yale University in New Haven, CT and her Juris Doctor in 1993 from Boston College Law School in Newton, MA. Ms. Hoskins Dow is currently affiliated with Bailey & Glasser LLP in Joliet.

Mr. Zelazo received his undergraduate degree in 1979 from the Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, and his Juris Doctor in 1983 from Loyola University in Chicago, IL. Mr. Zelazo is currently affiliated with The Law Office of Bob O'Dekirk, LLC in Joliet.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the sole owner of a three attorney firm in San Francisco. I started the firm seven years ago. We are an estate planning firm. Everyone is working hard and putting in the hours but we are not making any money. I am only making around $110,000 net income/earnings after overhead. Should I take a meat ax to my expenses?

Attorney Nerino Petro explores portable power options for attorneys, while comparing the battery life of the most popular mobile devices on the market today.

Q. As we zero in on the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta, were there professional ethics standards for lawyers at that time?

Join us in Chicago on June 25, 2015 for the trial practice tools you need to evaluate the financial issues in a matrimonial case while learning from seasoned litigators as they prepare themselves (and you) for an upcoming mock financial trial! From case assessment through closing argument, this seminar gives you the information you need to analyze, organize, and present persuasive facts that are essential for reaching a favorable ruling during a financial trial. Armed with a hypothetical case fact pattern and supporting business valuation report (which will be provided to registrants prior to the program), attendees will leave with a greater understanding of: how to assess a client’s position regarding maintenance, child support, business valuation, and possible dissipation claims; how to use discovery and other tools to flush out relevant facts and admissions; how to present a storyline favorable to the client; the ethical issues that arise when a client fails to disclose relevant data; how to conduct direct and cross-examination of business valuation experts; how witness choice and the structure of testimony impact a financial trial; the factors courts consider in determining child support, maintenance, and property distribution – as well as the essential evidence needed to present such cases; the key elements of a persuasive oral and written closing argument; the court’s expectations from family practitioners during a financial trial; and much, much more.

The seminar is presented by the ISBA Family Law Section and qualifies for 7.50 hours MCLE credit, including 7.50 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).