Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride on Wednesday announced that seven candidates have applied to fill a judicial vacancy in the 10th Judicial Circuit.
Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill judicial vacancies. Chief Justice Kilbride uses an extensive application, evaluation and interview process to make recommendations to the Supreme Court for judicial vacancies in the Third Judicial District.
The process includes an opportunity for public comment, background checks by police authorities and with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Chief Justice Kilbride will also use a poll of all attorneys residing in the 10th Circuit, which will be conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association over the next 30 days. The attorneys will be surveyed on their opinions of the applicants’ integrity, temperament, legal ability, management skills and other professional qualifications.
Chief Justice Kilbride will appoint a judicial screening committee made up of representatives from the community, including non-lawyers as well as members of the legal profession to evaluate all of the information. The names of that committee will be announced at a later date.
Attorneys whose applications were received by the deadline were: David B. Collins, David M. House, Kevin W. Lyons, Christopher S. McCall, Theresa B. Murphy, Leann M. Niebuhr, and Scott E. Umland.
Central Illinois
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May 11, 2011 |
Practice News
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May 11, 2011 |
People
The Peoria County Pro Bono Plan, a joint project of the Peoria County Bar Association and Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., presented their annual awards for outstanding contribution in providing free civil legal services to low income and elderly persons in the community at the Bar Association Law Day Luncheon on April 26, 2011 Rodney R. Nordstrom, of the law firm of Day and Day, received the award for Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. This award is given to an individual attorney who exhibits exceptional leadership and commitment in the provision of legal services on a pro bono basis. The law firm of Miller, Hall & Triggs received the award for Law Firm of the Year. This award is given to a firm that has shown an overall commitment and teamwork in providing pro bono legal services.
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May 6, 2011 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced Friday that Associate Judge Timothy M. Lucas has been appointed a circuit judge in the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride recommended Judge Lucas fill the Circuit Court vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. James E. Shadid upon his appointment as a federal district judge for the Central District of Illinois. Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court is given the authority to fill judicial vacancies. An associate judge in the 10th Circuit since 2001, Judge Lucas has presided over a wide range of cases including misdemeanor, traffic, civil, probate, juvenile abuse and neglect and juvenile delinquency.
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April 20, 2011 |
Practice News
Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Judge Michael Brandt of the 10th Judicial Circuit announced Tuesday a new mediation program to help ease the financial and emotional burden of homeowners, lenders and taxpayers caused by residential mortgage foreclosures in Peoria County. Chief Justice Kilbride said he is hopeful that the foreclosure mediation program will help keep some families in their homes and help prevent vacant and abandoned houses that drive down property values and destabilize neighborhoods. The Illinois Supreme Court approved the program which is modeled after one which began last June in Will County. Both programs operate with no expense to taxpayers and are sustained by an increase in filing fees paid by lenders seeking to foreclose. "This is an important step forward for those who have suffered the effects of our nation's economic crisis in Peoria," said Chief Justice Kilbride. "The Supreme Court has a keen interest in programs that have the strong promise of achieving timely and lasting resolutions to tough problems." The program in Peoria County not only mirrors the one in Will County, but comes after another mortgage foreclosure initiative was announced last week by the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court. On the recommendation of Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis, the Court appointed a special 14-person committee to study ways to ease the burdens of homeowners and to ensure fairness throughout foreclosure proceedings. It is anticipated that the Committee will propose procedures that can be implemented throughout the state. The Committee will examine the program in Will County and Peoria County as well as the one operating in Cook County, which is partially funded through county funds.
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April 19, 2011 |
People
Robert G. Kirchner, 54, of Urbana passed away on Sunday, April 17. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and had practiced in Champaign County for more than two decades. "He was unique among the Champaign County Bar for how aggressive he was, what a bulldog he was," says fellow attorney Tom Bruno. "We lawyers have an ethical obligation to act in the best interests of our clients, and he would do anything to fulfill that obligation." Funeral arrangements are pending at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, 1900 Philo Road, Urbana. Read the full obituary in the Champaign News-Gazette
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April 11, 2011 |
Practice News
[caption id="attachment_18781" align="alignright" width="143" caption="M. Carol Pope"][/caption] Justice Carol Pope, currently serving on the Fourth District Appellate Court, has announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Justice Sue Myerscough to the Federal District Court. Justice Pope has served on the appellate court since Dec. 1, 2008. Prior to that she served for 17 years as the Resident Circuit Judge of Menard County in the 8th Judicial Circuit. Justice Pope also served as the Menard County State’s Attorney from 1984-1991. Justice Pope graduated magna cum laude in 1975 from the University of Illinois, where she was named to the Bronze Tablet, the university’s highest recognition of academic excellence. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree with honor from DePaul University College of Law in 1979 where she was Lead Articles Editor of the Law Review. Justice Pope, by the election of her peers, currently serves as Third Vice President of the Illinois Judges’ Association (IJA), an organization of over 1,100 active and retired judges. She will serve as President of the IJA in 2013-2014.
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April 8, 2011 |
Practice News
Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride has developed a screening process to interview and assess the qualifications of applicants to the position of Circuit Court Judge in the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Request an application at www.state.il.us/court/SupremeCourt/Applications/10thApplicationForm.asp
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April 6, 2011 |
People
The VanFleet Law Offices proudly announce they have relocated their business and commercial law practice firm from downtown Peoria to a more practical location in Peoria’s northern business district. To better serve client needs, the firm is now conveniently located at 7817 N. Knoxville Avenue (Corner of Knoxville and Pioneer Parkway). All other contact information remains the same.
- VanFleet Law Offices
- 7817 N. Knoxville Ave.
- Peoria, IL 61614
- Telephone: 309-672-2200
- Facsimile: 309-672-2201
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April 5, 2011 |
People
[caption id="attachment_18665" align="alignright" width="140" caption="Robert F. Russell"][/caption] Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. has elected Attorney Robert F. Russell of Princeton, Ill., as the chairman of its board of directors. Russell is a partner in the Princeton law firm Russell, English, Scoma & Beneke. He is the third generation of Russells to practice law in Princeton, following his father, Fred G. Russell, and his grandfather, Judge R. L. Russell, who first opened his office in Princeton in 1897. ATG is widely known as an advocate for both lawyers and the clients they serve. Subsidiary companies owned and operated by ATG include: ATG Legal Education, LLC; ATG LegalServe; ATG Trust Company; The Judicial Sales Corporation; and NLT Title, LLC. “It is my goal to maintain ATG’s industry-wide reputation as the premier lawyer service organization for both the legal profession and for the public,” Russell said. “We have the right people to ensure we continue providing unsurpassed service to attorneys and their clients. Being chosen to lead this complex and innovative company during a time of extreme uncertainty in the national real estate market is a true honor. I look forward to working with our management team and my fellow board members to meet and surmount the challenges that face us.” Peter J.
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March 30, 2011 |
Events
President Mark Hassakis and Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride are welcomed by Lawyers Assistance Program president Sheila Murphy to the 2nd Annual Joseph R. Bartylak Dinner at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield March 25. Kilbride was featured speaker at the dinner. Retired appellate justice Tobias Barry of Ladd and retired circuit judge E. Michael O'Brien of Peoria were presented the Joseph R. Bartylak Volunteer Service Award. President Hassakis and past ISBA presidents Herb Franks of Marengo and Timothy Bertschy of Peoria were singled out by Murphy for their long support of LAP.
