ISBA News

Darryl K. McPherson, a United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois, today received the 2013 Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association at a ceremony held at the E.M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn, in Chicago. ISBA President-elect Paula H. Holderman presented the award.

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 entire criminal justice system. It is given sparingly to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement.

During his time at the helm of the U.S. Marshals Service for the Northern District of Illinois, Marshal McPherson has made a significant contribution to preventing and minimizing the impact of crime. He has also led the Marshals Service in getting involved in numerous community and charitable events that shed a favorable light on law enforcement.

The last day to vote in the ISBA election is tomorrow, April 30. VR Election Services, ISBA’s election provider, has e-mailed e-ballots to members with valid email addresses and mailed paper ballots to members without email addresses. If you haven’t received your e-ballot, please check your email spam under the suffix vres.us. If your e-ballot is not in your spam folder, or if you received an electronic ballot and want to vote by paper ballot, please contact VRES at (800) 218-4026 or by email at custserv@vres.us.

Online voting ends at 4:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 30th. Paper ballots must be received at VR Election Services in Texas by 4:30 p.m. CT on Monday, April 29, in order to be counted.

View candidate bios at www.isba.org/elections/bios

 “Ask a Lawyer Day” will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. We hope you will be able to volunteer again this year to contribute to the ongoing success of this event. We are seeking lawyer volunteers to answer phones at the Illinois Bar Center in Springfield from 9-11:30 a.m. and/or 11:30–2 p.m. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided by the ISBA.

Please complete this form if you are able to volunteer your time and expertise again this year. You can fax the completed form to (217) 525-9063 attention Tracy Potter, or you may call Tracy at (800) 252-8908 or email your response to tpotter@isba.org.

Anyone in Illinois with a question about a legal matter can call and talk to a lawyer – at no cost – on the 32nd Annual Ask-A-Lawyer Day, Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association ISBA in cooperation with bar associations in Chicago, DuPage County, and Lake County, Ask-A-Lawyer day will have scores of lawyer volunteers responding to phone calls.

Illinois residents can call a toll-free number (or a local number in some areas) to receive a free phone consultation:

• The Chicago Bar Association – 312.554.2001
• DuPage County Bar Association – 630.653.7779
• Lake County Bar Association – 847.244.3143
• From anywhere in Illinois, call the Illinois State Bar Association – 800.252.8908 or 217.525.1760

Lawyer volunteers will be standing by to answer questions about consumer problems, family law, estate planning, personal injury, or any other legal situations affecting individuals. Callers will be advised of steps they can take to resolve their legal problems and, if they need additional legal services, they will be advised to see their lawyer. If they don’t have a lawyer, they can receive a referral to a lawyer who practices in their area through the referral service offered by participating bar associations.

“People often have legal questions and don’t know where to turn,” said John E. Thies, of Urbana, president of the Illinois State Bar Association. “Ask A Lawyer Day provides an easy way for the public to get information about how best to address a legal problem.”