The Illinois State Bar Association had its mobile billboard in the lineup of Sunday's Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade – one of more than 200 entries. Toby Eveland, of ISBA’s SOGI section, organized a group of lawyers and law students to march alongside the ISBA entry. Other SOGI members present included Mike Goldberg and Joannie Rae Wimmer.
The parade entry was a collaborative effort between the ISBA, CBA, and LAGBAC (the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago). Additionally, members of Northwestern University's law school group, OUTLaw, marched with the float.
Events
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July 2, 2010 |
Events | ISBA News
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July 1, 2010 |
Events
Officers and leaders of the Illinois State Bar Association and Illinois Judges Association met during the Annual Meeting last week in St. Louis. Those present for the meeting included (from left): ISBA 3rd VP Paula Holderman, ISBA President-elect John Locallo, ISBA 2nd VP John Thies, IJA 2nd VP Rita Novak, IJA Immediate Past President Ron Spears, IJA President Lewis Nixon, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier, ISBA President Mark Hassakis, IJA Executive Committee member Elmer "Toby" Tomaire III and IJA Treasurer Robert Anderson.
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June 29, 2010 |
Events
[caption id="attachment_13415" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Executive Board of the NWSBA. From left are: Ronald Wittmeyer; secretary; William Kelley, treasurer; Donald Cosley, executive vice president; Judge Joseph Urso, presiding judge in the Third Municipal District of Cook County; Lee DeWald, president; Neil Good, first vice president; and Michael Meschino, second vice president."][/caption] It was both a look back to humble beginnings and a look ahead to a vibrant future as the Northwest Suburban Bar Association installed its officers and Board of Governors on June 17, and also celebrated the association’s 50th anniversary. The Honorable Joseph J. Urso, presiding judge in the Third Municipal District of Cook County, performed the installation and swearing in of new officers: Lee F. DeWald, president; Donald J. Cosley, executive vice president; Neil H. Good, first vice president; Michael A. Meschino, second vice president; William F. Kelley, treasurer; and Ronald F. Wittmeyer, secretary. Judge Urso also installed new members of the Board of Governors: Allen S. Gabe and Colin H. Gilbert, plus Ilonka Ulrich, association attorney; and Jackie LeFevre, parliamentarian, both of whom accepted new terms. On hand to help mark the half-century mark were Judge James Geocaris (retired), longtime presiding judge of the Third District; 26 past NWSBA presidents; and Don Norman, one of the founding members of Northwest Suburban Bar Association. For his pivotal role, new President DeWald presented Norman with the NWSBA Founder Award. DeWald urged members to get involved with the association, to be part of the volunteer spirit that has led to successful CLEs, free legal help for residents and other NWSBA contributions and events. Had he stayed on the sidelines, he never would have met Past President Rich Miller, ISBA President John O’Brien, innumerable judges, or any number of others in the profession, because their paths simply would not have crossed, DeWald pointed out.
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June 28, 2010 |
Events | ISBA News
[caption id="attachment_12730" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier swears in Mark D. Hassakis as the ISBA's 134th President."][/caption] Mt. Vernon attorney Mark D. Hassakis was sworn in as the new Illinois State Bar Association President on Friday night at the Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Hassakis, the first Greek American president of the ISBA, joined his father’s firm after receiving his J.D. in 1976. The firm now concentrates in all types of injury and wrongful death cases, both work and non-work related. In addition, the firm represents clients at administrative hearings before the Secretary of State for driving relief in DUI and other excessive violation cases. Hassakis’ guiding theme for his 2010-2011 term will be “Lawyers Care,” demonstrating his pride in the profession and the extraordinary efforts lawyers make every day to go above and beyond in their service to their communities and the profession. He will spotlight examples of the beneficial role lawyers voluntarily undertake to help shape a brighter future for our state and its citizens. "ISBA lawyers and the heart of the ISBA, the Illinois Bar Foundation, will spotlight our lawyer and judge members giving well beyond the great professional work they do, highlighting the extraordinary effort being made in the communities in which we live," Hassakis said.
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June 25, 2010 |
Events | ISBA News
[caption id="attachment_12606" align="alignright" width="259" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien presents a Board of Governors Award to Peoria attorney Sonni C. Williams."][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association presented awards in several categories at the Awards Luncheon on Friday at the Annual Meeting in St. Louis. President John O’Brien honored the following recipients (click here to view a photo gallery from this event): The Board of Governors Award was presented to Hon. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court; Hon. Alexander P. White, Cook County Circuit Judge and Sonni C. Williams, attorney for the City of Peoria and chair of the Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law. The Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award was given to Langdon D. Neal, Chairman of the Chicago Board of Elections and principal and owner of Neal & Leroy, LLC, one of the oldest minority-owned and operated law firms in the U.S. Lawrence A. Wojcik of DLA Piper and attorneys from Caterpillar Inc. received John C.
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June 18, 2010 |
Events
Race Judicata Sprint for Justice will be held in Grant Park on July 22. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. and the runners race begins at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds go to the general operating costs of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. Click here to register.
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June 9, 2010 |
Events | ISBA News
The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission is pleased to announce that it will honor Benjamin K. Miller, former Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, for his outstanding career and contributions as an attorney and jurist. The presentation of the award will take place during a special session of the Illinois Supreme Court at 2:00 PM in the Illinois Supreme Court Courtroom, 160 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, on June 14, 2010. A reception hosted by the Illinois State Bar Association will follow the presentation ceremony. The award is known as “The Honorable George N. Leighton Justice Award” and is given each year to an attorney or jurist whose career represents the highest standards of the profession and is dedicated to public service. In 2009, the inaugural award was given to its namesake, Judge George N. Leighton. RSVP to: confirm@illinoiscourthistory.org or 217.670.0890 extension 3 Photo ID required to enter the building.
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June 8, 2010 |
Events
The Honorable Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird, Presiding Judge, Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, will address over 250 members of the Chicago legal community from law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and legal aid agencies at the Public Interest Law Initiative’s (PILI) 2010 Celebrating Pro Bono Reception. The PILI 2010 Celebrating Pro Bono Reception will be held on Thursday, June 17, at 5:30 p.m. at the Ivy Room at Tree Studios, 12 East Ohio Street. Appetizers and refreshments will be served. Click here for more information and to register for this event.
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June 7, 2010 |
Events
“Batter Up for Justice,” the second annual Illinois Judges Foundation benefit for a summer judicial internship program for qualified law students, will take place on Monday, July 19, in Chicago. The venue is the Sheffield Baseball Club, 3619 N. Sheffield, across from Wrigley Field where the Chicago Cubs will play the Houston Astros. Game time is 7:05 p.m., but the rooftop event will begin at 6:05 p.m. The Lawyers’ Auxiliary Committee of the Foundation is the sponsor. Proceeds will help provide full-time, minimum six-week internships and stipends to first- and second-year law students who qualify because of minority status or financial need. The Judges Foundation has secured the participation of federal and state judges who preside in courtrooms around the state. The admission fee of $150 per person includes food and an open bar throughout the game. The event is open to the public, but space is limited. Reservations may be made by calling (312) 554-2008 or (773) 780-9991, or by e-mailing ijf@chicagobar.org. Sponsorships at various levels are available. A portion of each contribution is tax-deductible.
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May 28, 2010 |
Events
The Illinois Bar Foundation will host a reception for the Lawyers Care Fund (formerly known as the Subsistence Fund of the IBF) on Thursday, June 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Plaza at Park Grill in Millennium Park. Donations to the Lawyers Care Fund are used to provide support to those lawyers or their families who are unable to support themselves due to age, infirmity or other tragedy. The typical subsistence recipients are active bar members. They have a severe and debilitating illness that prevents them from practicing law. The illness is such that their medical expenses have depleted their savings and, with no current income, they can’t support their family or pay their mortgage. The Foundation steps in to keep the family in their home and put some food on the table. For more information visit www.illinoisbarfoundation.org or call the IBF at (312) 726-6072.
