[caption id="attachment_17174" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jerold Solovy"][/caption] Former Jenner & Block chairman Jerold Solovy passed away Wednesday at the age of 80. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride issued this statement on Solovy's passing: “We’ve lost one of the finest lawyers in the history of Illinois. If you say that, where do you stop the accolades.” Solovy began his career at Jenner in 1955 after graduating from Harvard Law. He became chairman in 1990 and was known for championing pro bono cases. Solovy also chaired the "Solovy Commission," which cleaned up the Cook County justice system after Operation Greylord. Read more about it in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and Crain's Chicago Business. The Tribune also published an article on Solovy's legacy in 2007.

Arthur N. Hamilton, 93, the former presiding judge of Cook County Juvenile Court, passed away on Christmas Day at his home is south suburban Hazel Crest. Originally from New Orleans, Judge Hamilton was born into poverty and worked his way through Chicago-Kent Law School. In 1971, he was elevated to the bench as head of what was then called the Neglected and Dependent Children division of the Juvenile Court. In 1981, he was appointed presiding judge of the nation's second-largest juvenile court. He held that position until February 1992, when he retired at the age of 75. Read the full obituary in the Chicago Tribune

William Evertson Phillips, 82, of Oak Brook, formerly of Deerfield, died Nov. 14, 2010 at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. Mr. Phillips was born May 3, 1928, in Galesburg to Frederick Wisner and Ruth nee Johnson Phillips. He is a descendant of the Reverend George Phillips who came to this country in 1630 with the Puritans, and Major Moses Phillips who fought in the Revolutionary War. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Salvesen Phillips; and three daughters, Carrie (Anthony) Quinn, Anne (David) Gezon and Elizabeth (Bernard) Schaffer; he is also survived by two stepdaughters, Melissa (Kip) Carlson and Melanie Salvesen; he was the proud grandfather of Kathleen (Mark Reed) Quinn Reed, Michael (Jennifer) Quinn, John Quinn, William Schaffer, Richard Schaffer, Sarah Schaffer, Christopher Gezon and Caroline Gezon; and great- grandfather of Samantha Quinn Reed. Mr. Phillips was preceded in death by first his wife of 47 years, Frances Holcomb Phillips. He attended High School at Western Military Academy, in Alton, where he graduated with honors. He continued his education at Knox College, in Galesburg, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at Knox, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and Scabbard and Blade Honorary Military Fraternity. He received four varsity letters in swimming, and was Captain of the Knox Swim Team his junior and senior year. He received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1953, where he received the prestigious U.S. Law Book Award. Upon graduating he worked for several firms before founding his own law firm, which eventually became Phillips, Healy and Allen. He practiced at 134 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago, for 35 years until he retired as President of the firm.

Judge Glenn T. Johnson, 93, former assistant attorney general of Illinois and the second African-American to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court, died of natural causes Tuesday, Nov. 30, in his Hyde Park home. When he was sworn to the Appellate Court bench in 1973, he became the second African-American to hold that position, following Judge George N. Leighton. Judge Timothy Evans, a former Chicago alderman who became the first African-American chief judge of Cook County Circuit Court, credits Judge Johnson with being a major influence on his political and legal career. Evans said Judge Johnson was also devoted to John Marshall Law School, where he served as a trustee, and his church, Woodlawn AME. "He was not only an icon to the African-American legal world, but he showed that same commitment to John Marshall and his service in the church," Evans said. Family visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a 10:30 a.m. service by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. There will be a service at 11 a.m. Each service will be at Woodlawn AME Church, 6456 S. Evans Ave., Chicago. Read the full obituary in the Chicago Tribune