Please join us at the ISBA/YLD Annual Holiday Party and show your support for the IBF/ YLD Children's Assistance Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable entity. Initially created to assist with the opening of children's waiting rooms in courthouses across the State of Illinois, the IBF/YLD Children's Assistance Fund has since grown, and now provides funding to organizations across the State of Illinois that provide legal assistance to children, maintain children's waiting rooms in courthouses, work to reduce recidivism of juveniles, and/or work to reduce the incidents of domestic violence in families with children.

WHEN: Friday, December 5, 2014, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

WHERE: Duffy's Tavern and Grille, 420½ W. Diversey, Chicago, Illinois

WHAT: Open Bar, Warm Appetizers, and Live Band!

COST: $50 per person for tickets purchased at the door the evening of the event.

By E. Alex Espinoza, Equal Justice Works/AmeriCorps, Veterans Legal Corps - Legal Fellow, U.S. Army Reserve

Each Veteran’s Day, our nation pauses to thank our 19.6 million living veterans. As an Iraq War veteran, I can attest to the awkwardness of responding to “thank you for your service.” At best, veterans don’t know how to respond. A response of “you’re welcome” seems too self-serving. At worst, “thank you for your service” is considered only lip service; a required response similar to “gesundheit” or “bless you” after a sneeze.

By Umberto S. Davi, ISBA President-Elect

Looking for a chance to lead? To grow? To make a difference in the Illinois State Bar Association and the legal profession? Then consider nominating yourself for one of our many section councils and committees for 2015-16.

As president-elect, it's my privilege to make appointments to section councils and committees for the coming fiscal year. These small but influential groups are the lifeblood of the ISBA. They produce newsletters and CLE programs, propose legislation, and help ISBA serve its members in countless ways.

Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Twelfth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Jessica Colon-Sayre as an associate judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Colon-Sayre received her undergraduate degree in 1996 from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and her Juris Doctor in 2001 from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Ms. Colon-Sayre is currently affiliated with the Will County State's Attorney's Office in Joliet.

Join judges and lawyers from across the state to conduct the business of the bench and bar and celebrate professional achievements. Highlights include an Opening Reception, a luncheon presentation by Attorney General of the United States Eric H. Holder, Jr., and an evening celebration honoring the Justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois. Additional programs and business meetings will be held throughout the conference. All this camaraderie takes place at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, steps away from the holiday pageantry Chicago offers during this time of year. Advance registration ends Dec. 5.

Find out more and register at www.isba.org/jointmeeting

On Nov. 21, the Illinois Supreme Court amended its Rule 138 privacy provisions to remove a ban on publication of minors' names in civil cases. The ban, which would have taken effect January 1 if not for the amendment, was opposed by the ISBA and its Family Law Section Council. The ISBA testified against the ban at a public hearing of the Supreme Court Rules Committee in 2013.

Before Friday's amendments, Rule 138 was set to prohibit inclusion of "birth dates" and "names of individuals known to be minors" in court documents and exhibits. It would have allowed only minors' initials and birth years to appear.

Critics' principal objection to the ban was that it "conflict[ed] with other statutes that, for example, require a child's name and birth date to be included in unified orders of child support and joint parenting agreements," wrote Adam Lasker in the November 2013 Illinois Bar Journal. (Also see Janan Hanna's article in the February 2014 IBJ for more about the ban and critics' concerns.)

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is seeking a full time temporary Pro Se Law Clerk. This temporary position is for one year and one day and may be extended but may not exceed four years, unless it becomes permanent. The Pro Se Law Clerk provides legal advice and assistance to the court in connection with prisoner petitions and complaints. The successful candidate for this position will report to the Chief Judge.

POSITION: Pro Se Law Clerk, Full Time Temporary*
VACANCY NUMBER: 2014-13
SALARY RANGE: JSP 11 ($57,982) to JSP 14 ($126,949), depending on qualifications**
DATE POSTED: November 24, 2014
CLOSING DATE: December 15, 2014, at 4 p.m.
* Position may become permanent without further competition
** Position is promotion eligible without further competition

Chief Judge John T. Elsner announced that the Court is accepting applications to fill a vacancy for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. This vacancy is the results of the elevation of Associate Judge Liam C. Brennan to Circuit Judge.

Judge Elsner added that applications to fill this vacancy will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2014. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, licensed to practice law in this state, and a resident of DuPage County. Two original applications, submitted on the prescribed application form, must be filed with:

• Michael J. Tardy, Director
• Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
• 3101 Old Jacksonville Road
• Springfield, IL 62704-6488

Applications can be obtained from the Chief Judge's Office, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts or from the Supreme Court's website: www.state.il.us/court

Applications may be be submitted electronically or via facsimile.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Carole Levitt and Mark Rosch – two internationally recognized Internet trainers and authors of seven American Bar Association Law Practice Division books – as they show you how to develop online investigative strategies to search like a private investigator. The program, which takes place in Chicago on December 12, 2014, show you how to develop effective investigative search strategies via the Internet using a variety of free and low-cost sources to help with your next case or transaction. Attendees with all levels of practice experience will learn how to: access expensive databases (for free!); retrieve background information from public records; conduct due diligence; unearth bankruptcies and other litigation history; find hard-to-locate people; learn how you can (and can’t) use social networking sites for investigative and background research; and how to overcome social media discovery and evidentiary issues and authenticate profiles. This Master Series seminar qualifies for 3.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.