Tweet about ISBA member benefits throughout the month of November and be entered to win a new iPad Mini. 

Throughout the month of November (2012) we are running an "ISBA Membership is Tweet!" Twitter campaign for our members. We're encouraging members to post a "Tweet" to the Twitter hash tag - #isbabenefits – for the chance to win 1 of 3 iPad Minis that we will be giving away*.  Tweets should answer one of the following questions:

• What is your favorite ISBA member benefit and why?

• How has an ISBA member benefit made a difference in your ability to practice more affordably and/or effectively?

• How will the new ISBA Free CLE benefit help you and your practice?

Find out more and read what fellow members have tweeted at www.isba.org/isbamit

Bryan Stevenson, a widely-acclaimed public interest lawyer who is perhaps best known for winning a U.S. Supreme Court case which held that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for all children 17 or younger is unconstitutional, will speak about his experiences fighting for the rights of the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned at a noon luncheon during the Midyear Meeting of the Illinois Judges Association (IJA) and Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers on Friday, Dec. 14.

Stevenson, the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, in Montgomery, Alabama, has dedicated his life to helping the underserved population receive justice. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he has been awarded 13 honorary doctorate degrees and has received numerous awards including the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship Award.

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.