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Central Illinois

  • September 16, 2013 | People
    Creed Davis Tucker 1924-2013

    Creed D. Tucker passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Friday, September 6, 2013.

    Creed was born April 30, 1924, in Glendale, Calif., to Constance Davis and Creed Airol Tucker. His father was a pharmacist and his mother was a homemaker. In 1933 Creed's father had the opportunity to return to Illinois to run the family farms in Pesotum, and the family moved to Illinois. As his parents were great travelers, Creed's youth was spent between Pesotum and Glendale.

    After graduating high school from Peekskill Military Academy in Peekskill, N.Y., Creed began attending the University of Illinois. But, like so many others during this era, his education was cut short by World War II. He was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and served for just more than three years. The majority of his naval service was as the executive officer aboard a 135-foot converted tuna clipper, a refrigerated commissary ship for the Pacific Fleet. He also participated in the liberation of the Philippines.

    After the war was over, Creed returned to the University of Illinois, where he graduated with a degree in journalism in 1948. As he missed California, Creed chose to begin his journalism career covering the police beat for the Los Angeles Mirror. While he enjoyed the majority of his time at the L.A. Mirror, he came to realize that this was not his final calling. He decided that he would return to Illinois to attend law school.

  • September 13, 2013 | Practice News
    Supreme Court approves cameras for courts in six Eastern Illinois counties

    Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell of the Sixth Judicial Circuit announced on Friday that news cameras will be allowed in trial courts in six additional Illinois counties.

    The Sixth Judicial Circuit is comprised of Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt counties in east central Illinois. With today's announcement, total participation in the pilot project rises to 35 counties within 13 judicial Circuits.

    “Cameras and microphones in the courtroom now reach citizens in more than one half of the judicial circuits and one third of the counties in Illinois," Chief Justice Kilbride said. "Chief Judge Flannell's application and approval by the Supreme Court to allow cameras in the trial courtrooms will bring more geographical diversity to the pilot project.

  • September 4, 2013 | Practice News
    Applications sought for U.S. magistrate judge position in Springfield

    The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time United States magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. The official location for the position will be Springfield, Illinois. Full-time magistrate judges are appointed to eight-year terms of office by the judges of each respective United States district court.

    The duties of the position are demanding and wide-ranging, such as: 1) conducting most preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; 2) trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; 3) conducting various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from a district judge; and 4) trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants. The basic authority of the United States magistrate judge is specified in 28 U.S.C. § 636.

    To be qualified for appointment as a U.S. magistrate judge, an applicant must:

  • July 31, 2013 | People
    Hon. Robert E. Manning Jr. 1931-2013

    Retired judge Robert E. Manning, Jr., 81, of Peoria, passed away on Monday, July 22, 2013, peacefully at his residence with his family by his side.

    He was born November 16, 1931, in Peoria to Robert E. and Catherine Irene (Gorman) Manning. He married Lois M. Wilson in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, on April 25, 1953. She died March 15, 2000. He married Rosemary Donnelly Crowley on March 24, 2001. She survives him.

    Also surviving are seven children, Michael Manning of Dahlonega, GA, Lauren (Tom) Donlan of Aurora, IL, Linda Manning of Peoria, Angela (Dan) Aeschliman of Dunlap, Robert (Kristen) Manning, James Manning, and Paul (Katie) Manning all of Peoria; eighteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Also surviving are five step-children, Karen (Bob ) Metzinger of Dunlap, Debi (John) Redington of Dunlap, James (Gail) Crowley of Elmhurst, William III (Laura) Crowley of Peoria, and John (Chris) Crowley of Peoria, as well as, thirteen step-grandchildren and two great-step-grandchildren.

    He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Paul; and a sister, Sharon O’Shaughnessy.

    A 1949 graduate of Spalding Institute, he captained the football, basketball, and baseball teams during his senior year. He was selected as an All-City quarterback in 1948. He attended the University of Notre Dame and lettered in varsity baseball. He graduated from Bradley University in 1953, where he also lettered in varsity baseball.

  • July 31, 2013 | People
    LeAnna Grimsley 1951-2013

    LeAnna (Early) Karnopp Grimsley, 61, formerly of Peoria and Morton, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2013, in Simi Valley, Calif.

    Her loving husband, Gary LaPook, survives.

    She was born on Sept. 13, 1951, to David and Kathleen (Bosecker) Early. She was preceded in death by her mother.

    Her sister, Janice Robertson, and her father and his wife, Juli, live in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    LeAnna was first married to Richard Karnopp and had one child, Carrie Karnopp Driscoll (Kevin). She was married to her second husband, Gregg Grimsley, in 1998. He preceded her in death in 2004. She has two granddaughters, Eloise and Agatha.

    She taught science at Central Junior High School in East Peoria for five years before attending the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating in 1986. She was an attorney at Vonachen, Lawless, Trager & Slevin for a number of years, later forming her own law firm, Grimsley & Grimsley, with her husband Gregg.

    Known for her sharp wit and intelligence, LeAnna was nearly impossible to beat in Trivial Pursuit, a favorite game among her family and friends. LeAnna loved to travel and enjoyed many wonderful trips, vacationing in Europe, St. Martin, Egypt, Hawaii and Tahiti, among many other destinations. She and her husband Gary recently spent two summers in Paris.

  • July 30, 2013 | CLE
    CLE: Fracking in Illinois: Facts and Myths Explained

    Join us in Springfield on September 17th as we separate fact from fiction on the issue of fracking in Illinois with this informative full-day seminar! Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is a hot topic issue in Illinois – especially with the Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act now in place in Illinois. In order to better represent clients dealing with fracking issues, Illinois attorneys need to learn how and where fracking works, the new state law, and the status of federal and state regulations. Attorneys who attend this full-day seminar will learn: the geology of the Illinois Basin and the New Albany Shale in southern Illinois; how horizontal drilling and fracking technology has enabled increased development of Illinois’ energy resources; the requirements of Illinois’ Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act; the roles of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the environmental issues associated with fracking, including resource water management, groundwater, disposal, and air emissions; local interests, including real estate and agricultural law issues; risk management and insurance coverage; and much more!

    The seminar – which qualifies for 7.0 hours MCLE credit – is presented by the ISBA Environmental Law Section, and co-sponsored by the ISBA Agricultural Law Section, ISBA Real Estate Law Section, and ISBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section.

  • July 25, 2013 | Practice News
    Maurer appointed associate judge in 7th Circuit

    Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Thursday that Matthew J. Maurer, received a majority of the votes cast by the circuit judges in the Seventh Judicial Circuit and is declared to be appointed to the office of associate judge.

    Mr. Maurer received his undergraduate degree in 1984 from Sangamon State University, in
    Springfield and his Juris Doctor in 1987 from the University of Illinois in Urbana. He recently served as First Assistant State's Attorney in Sangamon County.

  • July 18, 2013 | Practice News
    Chief Justice Kilbride announces names of applicants to fill vacancy in 9th Circuit

    Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride announced on Thursday the names of six attorneys who have applied to fill a judicial vacancy in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Fulton County resident Circuit judge Edward R. Danner.

  • July 18, 2013 | People
    Larry Mills 1955-2013

    Larry Mills, 58, of Danville, passed away on July 5, 2013, in Urbana.

    He was born on Jan. 17, 1955, in Elgin, the son of Robert C. and Betty (Sholes) Mills.

    Surviving him are his father, Robert; brother, Steve Mills of Lombard; sister, Cathy Yant of Westmont; nieces, Samantha Piper of Aurora and Jamie (Scott) Burpo of Tennessee; nephews, Levi (Kirsten) Yant of Boston, Mass., Jim (Kim) Mills of Tennessee and Jason (Natalie) Mills of Tennessee; special friends, Jan Keeler, Sue Woods, Lynda Morgan and Frank Young, all from Danville; and several great-nieces and nephews.

    Larry was preceded in death by his mother; and first wife, Ann Mills.

    Larry loved books and was a member of two book clubs. He had a passion for movies and the theater, traveling yearly to Stratford, Ontario, for a Shakespeare festival. He loved to cook, very much enjoyed long leisurely meals with friends and to share a glass of wine with good friends. He will be missed by all of them.

    Larry enjoyed a long legal career, both as a prosecuting attorney in the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office and more recently opening his own private law practice. Larry was jokingly known as a “walking law encyclopedia” and was always happy to answer questions from both prosecutors and defense attorneys. Larry was a member of the David Palmer Civic Center Board and was currently serving on the Vermilion County Board.

    Memorials can be made in Larry’s name to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the charity of the donor’s choice.

  • July 12, 2013 | People
    Judge Hartigan to be honored for 40 years of service by IHSA

    Cook County Circuit Judge and former ISBA Board member Russell Hartigan will be honored for 40 years of high school and college officiating by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) on July 20 at 3:15 p.m.

    IHSA Assistant Executive Director Craig Anderson will make the presentation at the Officials Conference Awards Reception at the Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria.