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:
The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed retired Judge Joe R. Vespa to be Resident Circuit Judge of Stark County. This fills a vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Stuart P. Borden.This appointment is effective Dec. 3, 2012 and terminates on April 1, 2013.
In cooperation with Feeding Illinois, the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) today announced it is launching a food and fundraising drive among Illinois law firms and legal organizations to help the estimated 1.9 million Illinoisans who lack the ability to obtain adequate food.
The Lawyers Feeding Illinois campaign was created by ISBA President John E. Thies of Urbana and is chaired by his wife, Terry Thies. "Our goal is to provide a million meals through donations of food and money," said John Thies.
Among speakers at the kickoff was Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who spoke about the tremendous need and credited lawyers for offering to help. "As lawyers, we have the opportunity to use our abilities to help others. While many people think our work is exclusively done in the courtroom, today we're here to focus on a more basic need - helping people in the kitchen. Lawyers Feeding Illinois gives all of us involved in the practice of law an opportunity to put our time and talents to good use beyond the courtroom."
Campaign chair Terry Thies said the food and fundraising drive will take place February 18 through March 1, 2013. Lawyers and lawyer teams can now sign up to participate at www.lawyersfeedingil.org.
The Illinois State Bar Association will be recognizing members who have been admitted to practice for 50 years at a luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 12. We are pleased to invite you to join President John E. Thies as the Association recognizes the 2012 Class of Distinguished Counsellors.
The luncheon to recognize the 2012 Class of Distinguished Counsellors will be held at Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. There will be a reception at 11:15 a.m. and lunch at noon. Tickets are available at $75 per person and advanced registration is required. To purchase tickets, please complete and return the attached registration form.
If you have any questions, please contact Kim Weaver by e-mail at kweaver@isba.org or by telephone at (800) 252-8908.
Congratulations to the 1962 Class of Distinguished Counsellors:
