Karen Munoz has been promoted to a partner at Dolan Law Offices, a personal injury boutique firm. Ms. Munoz has been an attorney with Dolan Law since 2008. She will continue to represent and advocate for clients in the areas of wrongful death, personal injury and crime victim lawsuits.
People
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June 13, 2017 |
People
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June 9, 2017 |
People
ISBA member and professor at Southern Illinois University Law School Cindy Buys recently took nine students from her asylum and refugee law class to visit the International Institute in St. Louis to help them get a better understanding of how the refugee resettlement process works in the United States.
The institute, which was founded in 1919 and provides services ranging from health services and English-language classes to job preparation assistance and employment information, helps both immigrants and refugees settle into their new lives in the U.S. In the past year, over 8,000 individuals have received assistance from the institute.
Professor Buys, who also manages pro bono asylum cases, recognized that there is a gap between what students learn about these subjects in the classroom and what’s happening in nearby communities. “My point in taking the students to the refugee resettlement center was really to give them a sense of what’s happening on the ground, right now,” she recently told The Southern Illinoisan. “We can look at statistics online about where they come from, but I think it’s different when you see it in person."
To learn more about the institute and the experiences of Buys' students, read the full article.
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June 7, 2017 |
People
Justice Rita B. Garman and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced that Justice Thomas M. Harris has been assigned as an appellate court judge in the Fourth District. The assignment, which will fill the vacancy created following Just M. Carol Pope's retirement, takes effect on August 1, 2017, and will conclude on December 3, 2018, when the vacancy will be filled by the winner of the November 2018 general election.
Justice Harris was first appointed as a judge in 2007 and was elected as resident circuit judge of Logan County in 2008. He has served for the Fourth District Appellate Court since January 3, 2013. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Harris had served as a civil trial lawyer since 1988.
Justice Harris currently serves on the Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and previously served on the Special Supreme Court Committee to Study Courtroom and Judicial Security. He is a member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Logan County Bar Association, and the Lincoln-Douglas Inn of Court. He has previously served as chair of the Allerton Conference, Civil Practice and Procedure Section, and Tort Law Section of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Justice Harris is a past member of the board of directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation and previously served on the editorial board of the Illinois Bar Journal and as the publication's editor-in-chief. He is a frequent speaker at professional seminars and guest lectures at the University of Illinois College of Law.
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June 7, 2017 |
People
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP welcomes several lateral attorneys to add more strength and expertise to the firm’s toxic tort litigation, asbestos litigation, and product liability practices.
Partner Drew M. Schilling joins Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP from Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen,
where we was also a partner. He received his J.D. in 1996 from Southern Methodist University Dedman
School of Law and his B.S. in 1993 from Northern Illinois University.Partner Gary C. Pinter joins the firm’s Madison County (Edwardsville) office from Heyl, Royster, Voelker
& Allen, where we was also a partner. He received his J.D. magna cum laude in 2007 from Northern Illinois
University College of Law and his B.A. in 1999 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.Associate Meg F. Hogan, who practices in the Chicago office, was formerly an associate at Heyl, Royster,
Voelker & Allen in Chicago. She received her J.D. with honors in 2013 from Northern Illinois University
College of Law and her B.A. in 2010 from Illinois State University. -
June 6, 2017 |
People
A State Historical Marker will be unveiled in Alton on Monday, June 19th to honor Scott Bibb, an African American who successfully fought in the Illinois Supreme Court for the desegregation of schools in what became known as the Alton School Cases in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Supreme Court Justices Anne M. Burke and Rita B. Garman will be attending the dedication ceremony. Also attending are John Lupton, Executive Director, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, and members of the Historic Preservation Commission Advisory Committee; Justice Joy V. Cunningham, Hon. Neil Cohen, and Scott Szala, J.D.
With the assistance of Lewis and Clark Community College, the Illinois State Historical Society sponsored and erected the historical marker. The Society maintains markers statewide regarding subjects of historical significance to Illinois.
“In recent years, the Illinois Supreme Court through its Historic Preservation Commission has undertaken an effort to bring Illinois’ history to life," Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman said. "We have explored the life of Mary Todd Lincoln and the Mormon experience in Illinois. The program on the Alton School Cases has made people throughout the state aware of the courage and dedication of Alton’s Scott Bibb. I am honored to have been invited to the dedication ceremony and to have the opportunity to speak to the Alton community about one of its great heroes.”
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June 5, 2017 |
People
ISBA members Jacqueline S. Pesenko and Stephanie L. Tang recently joined Kogut & Wilson, LLC.
Jacqueline Pesenko focuses her practice in the areas of matrimonial and family law. She prosecutes cases on behalf of victims of violence, abuse, neglect, and felony crimes. She brings an extensive background in social work, psychology, and counseling services. Jacqueline received her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, where she earned a certificate in child and family law, the President’s Award for Service, and the Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Public Service Award.
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May 30, 2017 |
People
Floyd Edward Crowder, 84 years of Columbia, Illinois, passed away Thursday, May 18, 2017 at St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.
He was born January 30, 1933, in Warnock, Illinois, son of the late William C. and Lula I., nee Smith, Crowder. He was married to Judith, nee Easton, Crowder, who survives him. They were married June 20, 1969, at the Graham Chapel, Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.
Floyd E. Crowder, JD '58, was founder of the law firm of Crowder & Scoggins. He was also the CEO of the Monroe County Title Co.
Mr. Crowder received his AB degree from Washington University in 1955, and his law degree from the Washington University School of Law in 1957. After graduation, he served three years in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate. In 1960, Mr. Crowder entered private practice in East St. Louis, Illinois. Three years later he established his own general practice of law in Columbia. Today, the firm of Crowder & Scoggins, Ltd., is comprised of six attorneys.
During his professional career, Mr. Crowder was state's attorney of Monroe County from 1964 to 1968, and also in 1976. In addition, he served as special assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois from 1969 until 1983.
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May 24, 2017 |
People
Michael J. Tardy, director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced his retirement effective August 1, 2017, following a sterling 40-plus year career with the Judicial Branch. Tardy was named acting director in September 2011 and was officially appointed as director in January 2012.
"Throughout his long career, Mike has been an invaluable asset to the Supreme Court. An innovative administrator, a gifted leader, and a skillful diplomat, Mike has helped steer the Third Branch of Illinois government through some of its most difficult challenges. During a period of budgetary uncertainty, social change and rapid technological innovation, Mike has been instrumental in insuring that the judicial system remains available to all who need its protections," said Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier. "He has overseen the implementation of statewide electronic filing and the introduction of new measures to improve pretrial release practices. He has helped place Illinois at the forefront of initiatives to improve access to justice, and his contributions have been critical to our implementation of new measures to insure that Illinois judges receive the best possible training and education."
Director Tardy served in both clinical and administrative positions within the Illinois judicial branch for the past 41 years. He initially worked for the Circuit Court of Cook County Social Service Department, a court agency charged with providing community-based supervision for adult misdemeanor and DUI offenders in Cook County. In his 13 years with the Cook County department, he started as a case worker and worked his way to district supervisor, managing three offices and a staff of 40.
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May 24, 2017 |
People
ISBA President-Elect Hon. Russell Hartigan and Evan Schanerberger visited St. Ignatius College Prep to speak with students who are interested in the law. These students are involved in and compete in mock trial competitions around the state. As an alumnus to St .Ignatius, Judge Hartigan wants schools like St. Igantius to be aware of opportunities with the ISBA as early as possible. St Ignatius is looking to the ISBA for direction on starting a new course in law.
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May 23, 2017 |
People
Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP (“SFGH”) announced Monday that Jeffrey D. Shelley has joined the firm as counsel in its Chicago office.
Jeff focuses his practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, charitable planning, tax matters, business transactions, and intellectual property. His scientific, tax, and business background gives him unique insights when providing individuals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and family offices with personal and business solutions.
Before joining SFGH, Jeff was the principal estate planning attorney at another law firm, where he also worked on business and intellectual property matters. Prior to entering private legal practice, Jeff worked as a Big Four professional services firm consultant, where he advocated for clients in complex business tax credit matters. He has also prepared patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Before practicing law, Jeff gained extensive business experience as a research scientist for a Fortune 500 company that manufactures and markets consumer and health care products worldwide. During his career there, he developed and launched next-generation products and manufacturing processes and was granted several product and process patents. Jeff has been named as an inventor in multiple utility patents.