On Tuesday, August 30, 2016 Judge Kevin P. Fitzgerald, Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Illinois, issued a groundbreaking court order when he appointed four attorneys as “Eleventh Judicial Circuit Assistance Attorneys.” The individuals honored with this cutting edge role are: Erin Donaldson, Mike McElvain, Todd Miller, and Judge Rebecca Foley. The Chief Judge’s Court Order, Administrative Order 2016 – 8, is a critical step in a pilot program spearheaded by Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) Volunteer and Board member, Mike McElvain. 

The pilot program aims to make it easier for attorneys beyond the Chicagoland area, an often underserved population, to access LAP’s free and confidential services such as peer support, assessments, interventions, and referrals. The four newly appointed Court Assistance Attorneys serve as local extensions of the Lawyers’ Assistance Program. As such, they receive the same immunity and are bound by the same confidentiality as LAP employees and volunteers, as provided in the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Interveners and Reporters Immunity Act, 745 ILCS 35/1 et. al., and the provisions of Rule 1.6(d) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct of 2010.  These Court Assistance Attorneys have committed themselves to confidentially accepting “information about Eleventh Judicial Circuit attorneys and judges in need of assistance for the sole purpose of relaying that information to the professional staff at LAP.”

Robert W. Ohlsen, 85, of Decatur, passed away on July 27, 2016, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Bob was born on June 18, 1931, in Downers Grove, IL, son of Angeline and Raymond Ohlsen. He married Barbara Reace in Chicago in 1958. He graduated from Peoria Central High School; Bradley University; University of Illinois School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Forum and the Order of the Coif; and Millikin University. Bob practiced law 54 years, until retirement in 2011.

Surviving are his wife Barbara, son Daniel (Stephanie), of Longmont, CO, daughter Karen Horton (William), of Carmel, IN, grandchildren Braden Ohlsen of Salt Lake City, Connor Ohlsen of Boulder, CO, Claire Horton of Indianapolis, IN, and Wesley Horton of Portland, OR; sisters Charlotte Ragan and Barbara Poindexter, brother-in-law William Rae, and many loved nieces and nephews.

The United States Attorney's Office (USAO), Central District of Illinois is seeking an experienced attorney to serve in the Civil Division and handle defensive cases where they will defend government agencies and employees of the government sued in an individual capacity in a wide variety of challenging cases and to represent the government in affirmative litigation when public funds have been wrongfully obtained by fraud. The Civil Division defends the interest of the United States from suits alleging statutory torts, constitutional torts, employment discrimination, and a myriad of other claims. The Civil Division also prosecutes cases for fraud and other violations of federal laws and is responsible for collecting monies owed to the government as a result of criminal fines, defaulted student loans, mortgage foreclosures, bond forfeitures and civil judgments. The division's civil rights enforcement program investigates and litigates cases involving discrimination in the areas of housing, public employment, disability, voting and education.

Job Description: 

Brown, Hay, and Stephens, LLP, is pleased to announce that on June 1, 2016, it opened an office in Edwardsville, Illinois. The additional location will allow the firm to improve its ability to service the diverse needs of existing clients and to introduce Illinois' oldest law firm to the Metro-East area. Established in 1828 by John T. Stuart, Abraham Lincoln’s first law partner, Brown, Hay & Stephens also maintains an office in Chicago.

The new office is located at 101 West Vandalia St., Suite 305-M, Edwardsville, Il 62025, Telephone No. (618) 250-2006.