The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select René Cruz as an associate judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Cruz received his undergraduate degree in 1992 from The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, and his Juris Doctor in 1995 from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Mr. Cruz is currently engaged in practice with the Law Offices of Gil & Cruz in Aurora.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that the Twelfth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Chrystel L. Gavlin as an associate judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Gavlin received her undergraduate degree in 1990 from College of St. Francis in Joliet, and her Juris Doctor in 1996 from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Ms. Gavlin is currently engaged in solo practice in Joliet.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that the Sixth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Richard L. Broch, Jr. as an associate judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Broch received his undergraduate degree in 1978 from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, and his Juris Doctor in 1981 from Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City. Mr. Broch is currently engaged in solo practice in Tuscola.  

Nearly everyone has heard about Apple's victory over Samsung and the billion dollar verdict awarded by the jury. New accounts and headlines make it appear that this could be the patent - if not the intellectual property - case of the year setting significant precedent in technology and the intellectual property sectors. However, among patent attorneys, doubt exists as to the impact the verdict and decision will actually have in intellectual property and technology sectors. The panelists will discuss the case from diverse perspectives and provide insight into the future after Apple v. Samsung.

The Supreme Court of Illinois has announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders entered Nov. 19, during the November 2012 Term of Court. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

ISBA President John E. Thies would like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to ISBA members and staff.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday the appointment of former Illinois Governor James R. Thompson to be chairman of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission. Governor Thompson will replace John B. Simon as chairman, who was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court in October.

Gov. Thompson has served on the Historic Preservation Commission since its creation by the Illinois Legislature in 2007.

"I am honored by this appointment," Mr. Thompson said. "I will work to carry out the mission to ensure that the Supreme Court of Illinois Building serves the needs of the Court in this century and be-yond as well as sponsoring programs and exhibits which educate the citizens of Illinois on the role of the courts and its relationship to the eminent practitioners of law since 1818.

John B. Simon was sworn-in as a Justice for the 1st District Appellate Court on Nov. 16. Mr. Simon fills the vacancy created by the death of Appellate Justice Michael J. Murphy who passed away Oct. 1. The appointment will terminate December 1, 2014 when the position will be filled by the November 2014 General Election.

Mr. Simon is a well known attorney with the Chicago firm of Jenner & Block and has a long record of public service. He currently serves as chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee and chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission.

Mr. Simon is the son of the late Justice Seymour F. Simon, who served as a Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court for eight years and as an Appellate Justice for six years.

Illinois Public Act 97-0839 -- aka the Business Law Cleanup Bill -- amends the Limited Liability Company Act, the Uniform Partnership Act, and the Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as Scott M. Metzger explains in the latest issue of The Corporate Lawyer, newsletter of the ISBA's Corporate Law Departments Section Council. The new law "makes fees, filing, and procedures for reinstatement more consistent across the various types of entities," Metzger writes. Read his article, which summarizes changes to each statute affected by PA 97-0839.

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers House Bill 30, which creates a three-year pilot program that would make Illinois the 19th state (along with the District of Columbia) to allow sick or dying people to use small amounts of medical cannabis. It would require a doctor to certify that the patient suffers from a “debilitating medical condition” such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, or hepatitis C and that this limited use would ease that suffering. More information on the bill is available below the video.

Key components of House Bill 30 (Lang, D-Skokie) are as follows: