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Central Illinois

  • July 10, 2017 | People
    Hon. Max B. Stewart 1921-2017

    The Honorable Max B. Stewart, 95, of Galesburg, formerly of Hamilton, died at 7:54 a.m. Friday, June 9, 2017 in Galesburg Cottage Hospital.

    He was born Aug. 31, 1921, in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of Robert and Mildred (Foelker) Stewart. He married Dolores R. Dulak in December 1946, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She preceded him in death in October 1983. He later married Martha Schrage Kirchner on May 18, 1985, in Carthage. She preceded him in death April 2, 2013.

    Max graduated from Hamilton High School in 1939 and from Carthage College in 1943. In 1941, typical of his generation, he answered the call to service and enlisted in the United States Navy following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. His enlistment was deferred until his graduation from college, at which time he was commissioned an officer. He served until being discharged in 1946. He served with the Amphibious Navy as a skipper on flat bottomed vessels. He and his crew navigated the Pacific Ocean, some 6,000 miles, from Hawaii to Okinawa, Japan.

    After the war, he attended Case Western Reserve Law School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1948. He returned to Illinois and practiced law in Hancock County. He was elected State's Attorney in 1956. He was a career prosecutor until being elected a Circuit Judge in 1974. In 1981, he was elected Chief Judge of the Circuit. He served until retiring in 1988.

  • July 10, 2017 | People
    Kenneth Vander Leest 1928-2017

    Kenneth F. Vander Leest, 89, of Peoria passed away at 4:26 a.m. Monday, May 29, 2017, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Born May 13, 1928, in Mitchellville, Iowa, to Arthur and Marie (de Reus) Vander Leest, he married Sondra D. Matthew on September 10, 1955, in Pekin.

    He was a United States Army veteran. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, he received his law degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
    Kenneth was an attorney for Caterpillar, Inc. for over 35 years, working in Switzerland for five years and in Peoria. 

    Kenneth enjoyed golfing, playing bridge and hiking in Arizona. He was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes.

  • June 27, 2017 | People
    Ross E. Canerbury 1942-2017

    Ross Erskine Canterbury, 75, of Peoria, Illinois, passed away peacefully, while surrounded by his family, at 7:07 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2017.

    Born on February 24, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, to Dr. John Ross Canterbury, M.D., and Audrey Bunting Canterbury, the family moved to Peoria, where Ross attended Whittier Grade School and Peoria High School. Ross attended college at Yale University, where he was President of Zeta Psi fraternity and graduated with honors. He then continued his education at Yale Law School, where he was active in Scroll and Key, as well as many volunteer roles.

    Upon graduation from law school, Ross commenced practice with the Chicago law firm of Isham, Lincoln and Beale. Thereafter, he became a partner in the Peoria firm of Westervelt, Johnson, Nicoll and Keller, where he practiced for 45 years. He concentrated his practice in labor relations and employment law, where he was a respected confidant and advisor to many businesses, municipalities and corporations, including Caterpillar.

    Ross generously gave of his time in his specialized field as a lecturer. For many years, he was rated as a preeminent attorney by Martindale Hubbell, the highest classification by America's most respected evaluator of attorneys. As an AV-rated attorney, he was recognized as having both the highest professional integrity and ability in his profession.

    1 comment (Most recent June 29, 2017)
  • June 7, 2017 | People
    Justice Harris Assigned to Fill Fourth District Appellate Court Vacancy

    Justice Rita B. Garman and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced that Justice Thomas M. Harris has been assigned as an appellate court judge in the Fourth District. The assignment, which will fill the vacancy created following Just M. Carol Pope's retirement, takes effect on August 1, 2017, and will conclude on December 3, 2018, when the vacancy will be filled by the winner of the November 2018 general election.

    Justice Harris was first appointed as a judge in 2007 and was elected as resident circuit judge of Logan County in 2008. He has served for the Fourth District Appellate Court since January 3, 2013. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Harris had served as a civil trial lawyer since 1988.

    Justice Harris currently serves on the Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and previously served on the Special Supreme Court Committee to Study Courtroom and Judicial Security. He is a member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Logan County Bar Association, and the Lincoln-Douglas Inn of Court. He has previously served as chair of the Allerton Conference, Civil Practice and Procedure Section, and Tort Law Section of the Illinois State Bar Association.

    Justice Harris is a past member of the board of directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation and previously served on the editorial board of the Illinois Bar Journal and as the publication's editor-in-chief. He is a frequent speaker at professional seminars and guest lectures at the University of Illinois College of Law.

  • May 25, 2017
    10th Judicial Circuit Seeks Peoria County Public Defender

    The 10th Judicial Circuit judges announce an opening for the position of Peoria County Public Defender. The individual will plan, organize, and supervise the activities of the office and will participate as trial counsel. Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Illinois, have extensive felony trial experience, and have demonstrated a reputation for integrity and equal justice under the law. Annual salary is set by statute and anticipated to be $150,000.00.

    Whether emailed, mailed or hand delivered, all applications must be received in Court Administration by 5:00 p.m. on June 30,2017. A form for may obtained from the court's website. Please forward all applications to:

    Rena' Parker, Court Administrator
    Tenth Judicial Circuit
    324 Main Street, Room 215
    Peoria. Illinois 61602
    Telephone: (309) 672-6066
    rparker@peoriacounty.org

    Applicants will also be required to make themselves available for an interview and screening process with the circuit judges of the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Applicants will be notified of the date, time, and location of the interview and details of the screening process at the close of the application phase. Applicants or their designees are to refrain from contacting individually any Circuit Judge concerning his or her candidacy or the selection process.

  • May 17, 2017 | People
    Chief Justice Karmeier Portrait Unveiled at Supreme Court Building

    An oil portrait of Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier was unveiled on Tuesday, May 16, at the historic Illinois Supreme Court building in Springfield. The painting hangs in the second floor hallway with the portraits of nine other chief justices, with additional portraits hanging in Chicago's Bilandic Building. The painting was done by artist Greg McNair of St. Louis. Chief Justices in Illinois are selected by their colleagues on the Supreme Court bench in a rotational pattern and serve for three years as the administrative head of the judicial branch. Chief Justice Karmeier's granddaughter, Emily Schnitker, performed the unveiling. She was on a Springfield visit with her 7th and 8th grade class from Trinity Lutheran School in Hoyleton. The class also heard the day's third oral argument, People v. Byron Boykins

    Among those attending from Washington County were Circuit Judge Daniel Emge, Circuit Clerk Cynthia Barczewski and Court Reporter Brenda Engele along with Chief Justice Karmeier's wife, Mary, daughter, Karianne Schnitker and office staff.

  • May 10, 2017 | People
    Richard Record 1937-2017

    Richard F. Record, Jr., a lifelong resident of Mattoon, Illinois, died on February 20, 2017, at age 79.

    A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2200 Western Avenue, Mattoon, IL. Burial will follow at Dodge Grove Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will take place from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2017 at Schilling Funeral Home.

    Richard is survived by Jacqueline (Cooper), his wife of 55 years; his daughters, Alexandra Claire Record of Munster, IN, and Jacqueline Rush Record of Flagstaff, AZ; his sister, Ann Record Wharton, of Fort Myers, FL; two granddaughters, Gabriella Evans and Theodora Evans; and many beloved friends.

    Richard, who was born and raised in Mattoon, graduated from Mattoon High School in 1955. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a J.D. from George Washington University. In 1963, he was admitted to the bar in Illinois and the District of Columbia, and joined the law firm of Craig and Craig that same year, where he practiced until his retirement in 2008.

    Richard was active in professional and civic associations, serving in many roles including president of the Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association (1979-80) and fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. In addition, he served as legal counsel for the Mattoon Police and Fire Commission from 2010 to 2015. He also was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church, serving on its vestry and as Chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield from 1989-1995.

    1 comment (Most recent June 19, 2017)
  • April 20, 2017 | ISBA News
    ISBA Remodel Creates More Appealing, Accessible Space in Springfield

    After nearly a year of renovations, updates to the Illinois Bar Center — the Springfield headquarters of the Illinois State Bar Association, located east of the state Capitol complex — were completed last month.

    For many years, the ISBA invested in the Chicago Regional Office, which is frequently used as a meeting space by members. But, as the Springfield office heads into its 50th year of existence, a major renovation was in order. According to Dennis Archer, ISBA’s assistant executive director for administration and finance, “It was time for us to bring [headquarters] up to the level that the CRO is.” After all, as Archer pointed out, “When our members come to Springfield now, we are expecting them to stop by so I think that is what we really got out of it. It kind of opens up another meeting place for our members.”

    In preparing for the remodel, ISBA had several goals in mind: to make the space more appealing to members and increase the building’s accessibility, all while preserving the building’s historical architectural roots and maintaining the organization’s professional atmosphere.

  • April 14, 2017 | People
    Lawrence William "Bill" Reisch, Jr. 1928-2017

    Lawrence William "Bill" Reisch, Jr., 88, of Springfield, died at 10:15 p.m. on Monday, March 20, 2017 at Lewis Memorial Christian Village.

    Bill was born June 13, 1928 in Springfield, the son of Lawrence W. and Margaret McGowan Reisch. He married Elizabeth "Bitsy" Garvey on May 28, 1960 in Springfield. 

    Bill graduated from Springfield High School in 1946 and went on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy during WWII. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri and earned his law degree from Washington University. He served as an assistant states attorney of Sangamon County and was then in private practice before becoming an assistant attorney general in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General for 33 years. He then served as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel of the Illinois Department of Revenue until his retirement in 1993.

    Bill was admitted to practice at the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, and the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois. He was a member of the Sangamon County Bar Association, Sangamon Club, American Legion Post #32, Sangamon Historical Society, Springfield Art Association, Illinois State Museum Society, and St. Agnes Church. He volunteered as a docent at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum and for Central Illinois Senior Services. Bill had an interest in computers and enjoyed reading, playing golf, and spending time with his family. 

  • April 6, 2017 | People
    Reilly Law Office Welcomes Attorney Jennifer Bunker

    Attorney Jennifer Bunker has joined the law firm of Reilly Law Office, LLC. Jennifer Bunker is a native of Oglesby and presently lives in Peru, Illinois. She has worked in the Illinois Valley legal community for the past seven years handling many litigation related matters, including will contests, property tax appeals, breach of contract, and personal injury claims. Prior to joining Reilly Law Office, she clerked for Justice Robert L. Carter of the Third District Appellate Court.

    Jennifer Bunker is actively involved in the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section Council. She is the editor of the Council’s monthly publication distributed to members throughout Illinois. She also assists the Council in providing continuing legal education to attorneys, determining the need for new legislation, and reviewing and suggesting changes to current legislative proposals affecting wills, trusts, and estates. She has developed and drafted will and trust-based estate plans and administered probate and trust estates. Jennifer Bunker teaches an advanced master of laws (LL.M) class at The John Marshall Law School in estate planning and tax law. She also has experience in Municipal Law representing local governmental agencies and has experience in representing closely held businesses.