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Central Illinois

  • November 9, 2014 | People
    Edward Hugh Rawles 1945-2014

    Edward Hugh Rawles of White Heath passed away suddenly from an aortic aneurysm on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, surrounded by loved ones. He was 69.

    An accomplished attorney, he successfully advocated for his clients across a wide range of legal issues. Raised in Champaign, he attended St. Mary's and Holy Cross schools and was in the Class of '63 at Champaign Senior High. Ed was an alum of the University of Illinois, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and received his law degree from Chicago Kent, where he was valedictorian.

    He is survived by his daughters, Lee Rawles and Jacklyn Dixon; and son-in-law Justin Dixon, who will always cherish the devotion he showed to them.

    He was a man who threw himself into many interests and hobbies, including scuba diving, photography, golf, hunting, fishing, gymnastics, model building, tennis, cycling and racing cars. Ed was a founding member of the Falling Illini skydiving club. He had a deep love of nature and the outdoors, and particularly enjoyed his work as a master gardener with the UI Extension.

    He was very involved in many professional organizations, including the Champaign County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He was a member of Champaign Rotary West for many years.

  • November 5, 2014 | People
    John C. Potter 1938-2014

    John C. Potter, 76, of Farmington passed away following a head injury on Oct. 11, 2014, at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.

    He had battled with cancer for more than two years prior to his accident.

    He was born Aug. 27, 1938, in Oxford, Neb., to Russell and Lillian (Negley) Potter.

    He is survived by his wife, Connie; his brother, Glenn Potter of Avon; two daughters, Kate Potter of Farmington and Kris Percy of Fullerton, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Angie Renner of Farmington and Alicia Mathison of Peoria; one stepson, Aaron Pensinger of Farmington; three grandchildren; and 10 stepgrandchildren.

    He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Katherine Schendel; and one brother, James M. Potter.

    John was a practicing attorney in Farmington for 42 years in the law firm of Baudino, Potter & Maas, and later with Froeling, Weber and Schell, where he was of counsel. He was an active member of the Peoria and Fulton County bar associations and served one term as president of the latter.

  • November 4, 2014 | Practice News
    Koritz appointed Resident Circuit Judge of DeWitt County

    Chief Justice Rita B. Garman announced Tuesday the Illinois Supreme Court's appointment of DeWitt County State's Atty. Karle Eric Koritz to fill the judicial vacancy of Resident Circuit Judge of DeWitt County in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

    The appointment is effective December 5, 2014, and will terminate December 5, 2016. He will fill the vacancy created by the death of the Honorable Garry W. Bryan.

    Chief Justice Garman recommended to the Supreme Court that Mr. Koritz be appointed after an application and review process that included evaluation by a specially selected screening committee.

    "This is a tremendous and humbling honor for me and I would like to thank Chief Justice Garman and the Illinois Supreme Court for the confidence they have placed in me with this appointment," said Mr. Koritz. "It has been a privilege to serve as state's attorney of DeWitt County and it will be a privilege to follow Judge Bryan to the bench."

    Mr. Koritz graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2005, attending law school after teaching high school history and government for one year in the mountains of northeast Tennessee.

    Following his admission to the Illinois bar in November 2005, Mr. Koritz joined the Peoria law firm of Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorius with an emphasis on defending medical malpractice cases. He joined the McLean County state's attorney's office in 2007 where he obtained extensive jury trial experience in cases ranging from simple traffic and DUIs to Class X felonies, including homicide.

    In 2008, he was named "Hero of the Highway" by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

    He was elected state's attorney in November 2012.

  • November 4, 2014 | Practice News
    Results from Tuesday’s judicial elections for all circuits outside of Cook

    Here are the Supreme, Appellate and Circuit results for Tuesday's judicial elections for all circuits outside of Cook. Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier was retained with a 60.7% yes vote in his retention race, according to results in The Southern Illinoisan.

    View the 1st District results

    1 comment (Most recent November 7, 2014)
  • November 4, 2014 | Practice News
    JusticeCorps recruiting Fellows for new sites in Champaign, Galesburg and Macomb

    The Illinois JusticeCorps is an AmeriCorps program which places volunteers in courthouses to provide legal information and navigation to vulnerable and unrepresented members of our communities.

    The Illinois JusticeCorps, as a result of ongoing statewide expansion, is recruiting Illinois JusticeCorps Fellows for new sites in Champaign, Galesburg, and Macomb. Each JusticeCorps Fellow commits to a year of service, and is responsible for taking a leadership role for the student JusticeCorps volunteers, as well as assist in coordinating the role of the JusticeCorps in their county. JusticeCorps Fellows are the daily face of the JusticeCorps in their courthouse, and provide leadership and guidance to the staff of student volunteers serving with them.

    Fellows have traditionally been recent graduates, of undergrad or law school, looking for a way to spend a transition year doing community service while they work towards their next step in life. This, however, is not the only type of person who could be successful in the role of JusticeCorps Fellow. It could be a great position for a retired attorney looking to provide service but stay out of practice. It could be a person looking to start a second career, or even someone who wants to make the most out of retirement. One of the many exciting aspects of the Illinois JusticeCorps program is that people from all backgrounds and types of experience can bring great things to the program, and do great things for the legal community.

  • October 7, 2014 | People | ISBA News
    Peoria’s Muir a shining example for McAndrews Award

    By Michael T. O'Connor

    Robert Muir of Peoria was the 2014 recipient of the John C. McAndrews Award.  He exemplifies what this award stands for, and at 80 years of age, Attorney Muir will celebrate 50 years of practice this coming November.

  • October 2, 2014 | ISBA News
    ISBA Task Force on Law School Curriculum hearings set for Champaign, East Peoria

    The Illinois State Bar Association's Task Force on the Impact of Law School Curriculum and Debt on the Future of the Profession will hold seven open hearings throughout the state. The Task Force was established by President Richard D. Felice and is chaired by Hon. Ann Jorgensen, Justice of the Second District Appellate Court. ISBA members are encouraged to attend these hearings to discuss the core skill sets that new lawyers should have and how law schools can graduate more “practice ready” lawyers.

    Those who provide comments should focus on:

  • October 1, 2014 | Events
    Supreme Court to formally rededicate building on Oct. 7

    President Felice to speak at historic event

    In 1938, Walter T. Gunn was sworn in as the 70th Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. A self-described "ordinary country lawyer by profession", the Danville attorney continued to serve on the Court until his retirement in 1951. Justice Gunn also served as Chief Justice from 1940-1941, the second from Vermilion County to do so.

    Nearly 76 years later, Champaign resident and internationally renowned vocalist Nathan Gunn will perform in the same building that his great-grandfather once heard oral arguments. He and his wife Julie Jordan Gunn are special guest performers at the Court's rededication ceremony of the restored Supreme Court Building on Tuesday, October 7 at 6 p.m.

  • September 26, 2014 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court annouces judicial vacancy in 11th Circuit

    Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for an at-large Circuit Court vacancy in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

    The vacancy is created by the announced retirement of Judge Elizabeth A. Robb on December 31, 2014. Judge Robb has been a Circuit Judge since 2000.

  • September 24, 2014 | People
    Edward C. Moehle 1925-2014

    Edward Carl Moehle, 88, of Pekin, passed away on September 13, 2014 at his home.

    He was born December 7, 1925 in Okawville to Walter August and Minna Elizabeth (Miché) Moehle.

    Ed was a World War II Army veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater as Chief Clerk at the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur and worked for the International Military Tribunal of the Far East in Tokyo, Japan. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.