The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to release opinions in the following six cases on Friday, Jan. 24. Quick Takes on each case will be published in Monday's E-Clips due to ISBA network downtime.

• No. 115308 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. David K. Elliott, appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, Fifth District.
• No. 115310 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Billy McChriston, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, Fourth District.
• No. 115330 - Gillespie Community Unit School District No. 7, etc., appellant, v. Wight & Company, etc., appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, Fourth District.
• No. 115424 - In re S.L., a Minor (People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Julia F., appellee). Appeal, Appellate Court, Fifth District.
• No. 115459 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Christopher B. Bailey, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, Second District.
• No. 115638 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Peter Hommerson, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, Second District.

What is Myra Bradwell’s legacy to us as attorneys and future attorneys and what is our commitment to carrying forward that legacy? Find out at From Myra Bradwell to Us: Rise Up and Reach Back on Friday, March 21, 2014 at the NIU College of Law. The program will run from 3-5 p.m. with a reception from 5-7 p.m. This event is presented by the ISBA’s Standing Committees on Women and the Law and Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law.

In order to fund this epic event, the ISBA is relying on public contributions & sponsorships. All contributors will be listed in a program and on a board prominently displayed at the reception. Please contact Rachel McDermott at rmcdermott@isba.org or 20 S. Clark, Ste. 900, Chicago, IL 60603 to participate.

Don’t miss this nuts-and-bolts examination of the personal injury litigation process! This back-to-basics seminar covers all aspects of the personal injury litigation case – from pretrial to post-trial – and pays particular attention to updated and emerging issues.

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Cook County Circuit Judge Laura Liu to the 1st District Appellate vacancy created by the death of Justice Patrick Quinn.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, sitting Appellate Justice Bertina Lampkin will move into Quinn's vacancy and Liu will move into Lampkin's spot.

The appointment is effective Feb. 3.

"Smells like money to me." Whether or not any farmer actually said it, it's someone's  sardonic response to complaints about foul odors associated with hog production. But as town increasingly meets country in exurban Illinois, unhappiness about livestock odors is no laughing matter for farmer or homeowner alike.

Perhaps both sides got some good news in Country Mutual Insurance Company v. Hilltop View, where "an Illinois appeals court has rejected an insurer’s denial of coverage to hog confinement operators pursuant to a standard 'pollution exclusion' provision in an umbrella liability policy," as Kristine Tidgren reports in the latest ISBA Agricultural Law newsletter. Read her article.

Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Circuit Court vacancy in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

The Woodford County resident circuit vacancy is created by the retirement of Judge John B. Huschen on March 31, 2014. Judge Huschen has been a resident Circuit Judge since 1998.

The Illinois State Bar Association's Delivery of Legal Services’ Committee has updated its Disaster Legal Services Manual and the newest version is now available at www.illinoislawyerfinder.com/disastermanual

Asked and Answered

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

Q. Our firm is an eight attorney firm located in Minneapolis. We have 5 partners and three associates. I serve as the managing partner and frankly I do not have the time or the skills to do an effective job. My performance as managing partner is marginal at best. We have recently been discussing hiring a professional legal administrator to manage the firm. What are the essential skill sets we should look for?

The Illinios Supreme Court has appointed the Hon. Mitchell L. Hoffman to Circuit Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit, Fourth Subcircuit. This appointment is effective Feb. 3, 2014 and terminates on Dec. 5, 2016. Judge Mitchell currently serves as an associate judge in the 19th Circuit.

The Chicago Lawyers Hockey Team of the Chicago Masters Hockey League recently played their 6th annual United Center charity game against the Chicago Celebrity Allstars Hockey Team, which team included some Chicago Blackhawks alumni. The game benefited the Chicago Legal Clinic. 

Those photographed in the back row are (left to right): Michael B. Quigley, David M. Goldman, Lowell D. Snorf, III, C.J. Koroll, Patrick D. Thompson, Kevin M. Magnuson, James R. Foley, and David Vander Ploeg. Those photographed in the front row are (left to right): Kent D. Sinson, Michael B. Goldberg, Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, and Steven L. Demitro (Captain).

This year's game went to the Chicago Celebrity Allstars Hockey Team who defeated the Chicago Lawyers 5-4.