The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Eugene E. Gross received a majority of the votes cast by the circuit judges in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit and has been appointed to the office of associate judge. Mr. Gross received his undergraduate degree in 1980 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and his Juris Doctor in 1983 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Gross is currently affiliated with Reed, Heller, Mansfield & Gross in DuQuoin, Illinois

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the filing of disciplinary orders involving a number of licensed lawyers. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law. More information on each case is available at the ARDC website.

DISBARRED

• William Charles Chesbrough, Elgin

Mr. Chesbrough, who was licensed in 1980, was disbarred. He misappropriated more than $113,000 that he was holding for a client in connection with the client’s deceased mother’s estate. In addition, in two separate real estate matters, he converted more than $28,000 that he was holding either as earnest money or to pay real estate taxes.

• Alan Samuel Cohen, St. Louis

Mr. Cohen was licensed in Missouri in 1992 and in Illinois in 1993. He was disbarred in Missouri for failing to maintain a client trust account and for using client and third party funds to pay office and personal expenses. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

• Joseph Patrick Collins, Chicago

Mr. Collins, who was licensed in 1975, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in federal court of conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud. The conviction was based on his conduct while serving as outside counsel for Refco Inc., a commodities brokerage firm. Mr. Collins participated with others in an eight-year scheme to hide the company’s financial situation by making false and fraudulent statements to various parties, including banks, auditors, investors and the Securities Exchange Commission.

• C. Wayne K. Davis, St. Louis

Mr. Davis was licensed in Missouri in 1996 and in Illinois in 1999. He was disbarred in Missouri after a felony conviction. He misappropriated at least $25,000.00 from his employer, the Edward Jones Company. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

• Kelly Christine Garland, Chicago

Ms. Garland, who was licensed in 2002, was disbarred on consent. She falsified court orders and an affidavit in five different domestic relations matters in order to conceal from her clients the true status of their cases.

• Thaddeus James Hunt, Chicago

Mr. Hunt, who was licensed in 2002, was disbarred. He misappropriated $10,274.67 in client funds, neglected seven client matters, failed to communicate with clients and abandoned his law practice.

• Brainerd William LaTourette III, St. Louis

Mr. LaTourette was licensed in Missouri in 1982 and in Illinois in 1983. He was disbarred in Missouri for failing to perform his duties as trustee for a family trust, disobeying a court order, engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and failing to participate in disciplinary proceedings against him. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

• James A. Reskin, Louisville, Ky.

Mr. Reskin, who was licensed in Illinois in 1982, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma on charges of obstructing a criminal investigation by making false and misleading statements to the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Department of Justice.

• Kenneth Alan Runes, Mount Prospect

Mr. Runes, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred. He misappropriated over $13,000 in client funds, neglected numerous client matters, failed to communicate with clients, failed to refund unearned fees, and did not cooperate with the ARDC investigation. Mr. Runes did not participate in his disciplinary hearing. He failed to participate in his disciplinary proceeding.

• Lawrence Scott Wick, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

Mr. Wick, who was licensed in Illinois in 1971, was disbarred. He billed more than $1 million to two corporate clients for work that he had never performed.

• Bradford Thomas Yaker, Bingham Farms, Mich.

Mr. Yaker was licensed in Illinois in 1988 and in Michigan in 1995. He was disbarred in Michigan for repeatedly representing to a client that he had filed a securities claim for the client when he had not done so. In addition, he falsely informed the client that he had reached a settlement in the matter and provided the client with a fictitious settlement agreement providing for a $30,000 payment. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

[caption id="attachment_14606" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Justice Thomas L. Kilbride"][/caption] The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday it has unanimously elected Justice Thomas L. Kilbride as Chief Justice, effective October 26, 2010, to succeed Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald, who has announced his retirement for health reasons. Justice Kilbride’s tenure as Chief will run through October 25, 2013. “I am exceedingly honored and humbled by my colleagues’ selection of me as Chief Justice,” Justice Kilbride said. “I regret deeply that my friend Chief Justice Fitzgerald will not be able to complete his term as Chief, but I have learned much from his example of dignity, grace and leadership. I will miss his continued guidance and friendship.” “Fortunately, I can continue to draw on the example that my colleagues Charles Freeman and Bob Thomas have set before me as Chief, and I welcome and deeply appreciate the confidence they and each member of the Court has placed in me by this honor.” Chief Justice Fitzgerald announced earlier this week that he was retiring, effective October 25, for health reasons. Justice Kilbride, 57, was elected to the Supreme Court from the Third Judicial District in 2000, the same year Chief Justice Fitzgerald and Justice Thomas were elected to the Supreme Court. Justice Kilbride is known as a common man in an uncommon position who took an unusual path to reach the top of his profession. As the only member of the seven justices who had not served as a judge before, he brings a rare perspective to the Court. He had been a practitioner for nearly 20 years, first as a legal services attorney for the poor, then for a mid-sized law firm and as a solo practitioner in a storefront office. Throughout all of those years, he was continuously involved in volunteer service in the Rock Island area. “Justice Kilbride is a good and decent man, and will make a wonderful Chief Justice,” said retiring Chief Justice Fitzgerald. “He’s hard-working, thoughtful and highly capable.” In another Order filed on Thursday, the Supreme Court named Justice Rita B. Garman as a member of the Illinois Courts Commission to replace Justice Kilbride when he becomes Chief. Justice Kilbride grew up in Kankakee, received his B.A. degree magna cum laude from Saint Mary’s College in 1978; and his law degree from Antioch School of Law in Washington D.C. in 1981. While in law school, Justice Kilbride completed judicial internships for the administrative assistant to the Chief Justice (Warren Burger) of the United States Supreme Court and for U.S. District Court Judge Joyce Hens Green. As a member of the Court, he was the moving voice behind the formation of a special committee to study and make recommendations on how to encourage every practicing attorney in the state to give some form of free legal work to those who cannot afford it.

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Kane County State’s Attorney John A. Barsanti as a Circuit Court Judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Colwell. The appointment is effective December 1, 2010 and terminates December 3, 2012. Mr. Barsanti, elected as state’s attorney in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, has a total of 27 years as a prosecutor dating to 1979, two years after law school, when he first joined the office. Mr. Barsanti received his Bachelor of Science degree from Carroll College and his juris doctorate from Kent College of Law in Chicago in 1977. He worked for two years in the Illinois Department of Labor before joining the state’s attorneys office. He also worked for the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor’s Office from 2000 to 2004. Mr. Barsanti is a member of the Capital Litigation Bar -- qualified to try death penalty cases --and was appointed to the Capital Litigation Screening Committee by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. He is a member of the Kane County Bar Association, and has been a criminal law instructor at Waubonsee Community College and has served as a faculty member at training seminars for the State Appellate Prosecutor’s Office. He was born and raised in Cicero, and has been a resident of Kane County since 1972. He is married, and the couple has four children.