ISBA News

Officer Michelle Wilgus of the Belvidere Police Department received the ISBA Law Enforcement Award on September 18 during a Belvidere City Council meeting. The award was presented by Julie Johnson, ISBA Board of Governors and attorney at Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa in Chicago.

The ISBA Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system. It recognizes those who excel in law enforcement.

Officer Wilgus, who was nominated for the award by Johnson on behalf of the ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law, was acknowledged for strengthening the relationship between the Belividere Police Department and the community by starting the ‘Badges with Books’ outreach program.

The Illinois Supreme Court will host a memorial service in honor of the late Justice John J. Stamos at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, September 20, at the Illinois Supreme Court at 20 E. Capitol Avenue in Springfield.

The opening and closing remarks will be delivered by Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier. Tributes will be given by Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis; the Honorable Benjamin K. Miller, a former Supreme Court Justice; the Honorable Gino L. DiVito, a former Appellate Justice; Mr. James J. Stamos, Esquire, of Stamos & Trucco LLP, the son of Justice Stamos; and ISBA president, the Honorable Russell W. Hartigan, a former Cook County Circuit Judge.

The ISBA Assembly has revised the policy on the selection of ISBA delegates to the ABA House of Delegates. As a result, two new at-large positions have been created, and the Assembly will elect members to fill these positions at the December 9, 2017 meeting.

The nominees for these positions must be members of the ISBA who are in good standing and from the appropriate area. One will be from Cook County and one from the area outside Cook County. Both will serve for one-year terms commencing immediately, and the delegates will be part of the ISBA delegation at the February 2018 ABA Midyear Meeting and the August 2018 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Nominations must be made in writing by at least 20 ISBA members in good standing from the appropriate area. Nominations must be filed with the office of the executive director not later than Friday, November 17, 2017. 

Questions about the nominating petition may be directed to the ISBA executive director’s office by contacting Kim Weaver by e-mail or calling 800.252.8908.

Beginning with the N-Z reporting period ending June 30, 2019, Illinois attorneys must complete at least one our of diversity and inclusion CLE and one hour of mental health and substance abuse CLE during each two-year reporting period, or participate in a yearlong Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program (S. Ct. Rule 795(d)).

The rule changes reflect an effort to address the impact of the legal profession's diversity challenges on the justice system. Additionally, the new rules seek to encourage lawyers to explore ways to increase their health and well-being because statistics show that judges and lawyers suffer from mental health and substance abuse issues at a significantly higher rate than does the general population.

ISBA has several courses to help you satisfy the requirements under the new MCLE rule change, including: