Darryl Pratscher, Clerk of the Fourth District Illinois Appellate Court, passed away following a short illness on July 24. Mr. Pratscher, 57, had served in the Fourth District since 1979 and as the Clerk of the Court since 1981. Services for Mr. Pratscher will be private.

Whew. Lawyers scrambling to create identify-theft policies to comply with the August 1 implementation deadline for the FTC's "Red Flags Rule" can breathe a little easier. It's been pushed back to November 1. The ABA Journal and the Blog of Legal Times have more.

If you represent a veteran or have family members who are veterans, the Governor signed about 22 bills affecting them over the weekend. They may be found at this link, Public Acts 96-79 through 96-101.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier announced today that an application process has begun for a Circuit Court vacancy in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. The at-large Circuit vacancy is being created by the announced resignation of Circuit Judge John Coady, effective October 3, 2009. Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill interim judicial vacancies. Justice Karmeier uses an application, evaluation and interview process to make recommendations to the Court for vacancies in the Fifth Judicial District. Notice of the vacancy has been posted in courthouses throughout the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Applicants must submit a cover letter with the Requested Information of an Applicant Form to: Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, Supreme Court of Illinois, P.O. Box 266, Nashville, IL 62263. The form may be obtained from the office of Chief Judge Gene Schwarm of the Fourth Judicial Circuit; the presiding judge or circuit clerks of the counties within the Fourth Circuit or from Justice Karmeier. Applicants' cover letter and completed form must be received in Justice Karmeier's office no later than Monday, August 17, 2009. The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until the position is filled through the November, 2010 general election. The appointment will terminate December 6, 2010. To be eligible for appointment, a person must be a resident of the Fourth Judicial Circuit at the time of the appointment. The Fourth Judicial Circuit is comprised of nine counties: Clinton, Marion, Clay, Jasper, Effingham, Fayette, Shelby, Christian and Montgomery.