ISBA News

The Illinois State Bar Association will honor the Class of 1966 Distinguished Counsellors on Thursday, Oct. 13. This title is conferred annually upon those ISBA members who are completing their 50th year of practice.

The Board of Governors is pleased to announce the 2016 Class will be honored at a special luncheon on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at the Union League Club. A reception will begin at 11:15 a.m., and lunch is scheduled promptly at noon.

Tickets to the luncheon are available and may be purchased online at www.isba.org/distinguishedcounsellorsluncheon. Any questions regarding the luncheon may be directed to Kim Weaver at kweaver@isba.org.

Congratulations to the 1966 Class of Distinguished Counsellors:

Former Police Chief Bradley Bloom, of the Village of Hinsdale, received a 2016 Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) on Friday, July 22 during a ceremony at the Hinsdale Village Hall.

The ISBA’s 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 criminal justice system. It recognizes those who excel in law enforcement.

Bloom was acknowledged for upholding high ethical standards, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to pursue a common goal, and his strong work ethic. During his time as Chief of Police, Bloom improved the resident satisfaction rate, increased officer training hours, and implemented new programs that have focused on creating partnerships and improving community relationships. Bloom served as the Chief of Police for the Village of Hinsdale for the last 13 years and currently serves as the Village’s Director of Public Safety.

One program that Bloom helped implement was to allow police officers to carry the heroin antidote Narcan. This program involved training over 2,000 police officers in DuPage County and those officers have saved over 180 lives administering the antidote to heroin overdose victims.

ISBA President Vincent F. Cornelius testified Friday before the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee in support of Proposal 15-05. This proposal amends Supreme Court Rule 941 and creates Supreme Court Rule 943.

Rule 943 would create guidelines for when restraints can be used on a minor in delinquency proceedings arising under the Juvenile Court Act. The ISBA supports Proposal 15-05. The proposal is available at www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Public_Hearings/Rules/2016/070816_Proposal_15-05.pdf

"The shackling of these minors that is automatic, routine, presumptive," President Cornelius said, "is unnecessary, inappropriate and I dare say something less than Third World."

The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association, has awarded its 2016 Post Graduate Legal Fellowship Program grants to law school clinics at DePaul University College of Law, Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Northern Illinois University College of Law.

Each law school has selected a 2016 graduate for the one-year fellowship, designed to increase access to civil legal aid, help new attorneys develop practical legal skills and build a network, and encourage the participants to use their skills to serve those in need throughout their career through public interest jobs or pro bono work.

The 2016 participants are Patricia Zimmerman, a graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Law; Caitlin M. Duane, DePaul University College of Law; and Victoria E. Dempsey, Loyola University Chicago School of Law. The IBF and law schools share the cost of the Fellowships which have been awarded annually since 2014.

Zimmerman will serve at NIU Law’s Zeke Giorgi Clinic in Rockford; Duane will work at DePaul’s Poverty Law Clinic; and Dempsey will be located at the Community Law Center Clinic at Loyola University Chicago.