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  • November 1, 2016 | Practice News
    The Honorable Lloyd A. Karmeier installed as Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court

    The Honorable Lloyd A. Karmeier was installed Monday as Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court in a ceremony at the Supreme Court Building in Springfield.

    Justice Rita B. Garman administered the oath of office. Speakers included Supreme Court Justices Anne M. Burke, Robert R. Thomas and retired Justice Philip J. Rarick.

    Chief Justice Karmeier's brother, Del Karmeier, gave the invocation and the Karmeier grandchildren led the pledge of allegiance.

    Chief Justice Karmeier, of Nashville, Illinois, is this State’s 120th Chief Justice and the second person from Washington County to hold that office. Justice Byron O. House, for whom Chief Justice Karmeier served as a law clerk, was the first.

    1 comment (Most recent November 3, 2016)
  • October 28, 2016 | Practice News
    Circuit Court Sanctions Nonlawyer for UPL - ARDC v. Cummins

    In this Agreed Final Order, Ms. Michelle Cummins was found guilty of minor indirect criminal contempt for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law by accepting a position as a licensed lawyer with a corporate employer. Ms. Cummins was ordered to pay $500 in court costs and sentenced to one year of non-reporting probation. ARDC v. Cummins, Cook County No. 16 MC1-600160 (October 28, 2016).

  • October 27, 2016 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court appoints Marion attorney to fill resident circuit judge vacancy in 1st Judicial Circuit

    Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Marion attorney John W. Sanders as the Resident Circuit Judge of Williamson County in the First Judicial Circuit.

    Mr. Sanders was appointed Thursday to fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of resident Circuit Judge Carolyn Smoot, effective November 30, 2016.

    The appointment of Mr. Sanders takes effect on December 1, 2016, and will conclude on December 3, 2018, when the vacancy will be filled by the winner of the November 2018 general election.

    "I'm honored that Chief Justice Karmeier and the Supreme Court have the confidence in me to serve as a Circuit Judge," Sanders said. "I've had the pleasure to represent clients throughout Southern Illinois for the past 28 years. I now look forward to working with the other judges to serve the people of Williamson County and the First Judicial Circuit."

  • October 27, 2016 | Practice News
    Quick Takes for Your Practice: The top 5 leading causes of wrongful convictions

    Attorney Lauren Kaeseberg from the Illinois Innocence Project discusses the top 5 leading causes of wrongful convictions.

  • October 26, 2016 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Law Firm Management - Excessive Collaboration

    Asked and Answered

    By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

    Q. I am a partner in a twelve attorney general practice firm in Upstate New York. There are eight partners and four associates in the firm. Our firm was formed five years ago when we broke off from another firm in the area. That firm was led and managed by a dictatorial founder and other attorneys in the firm including partners had no say in management matters whatsoever. When we formed this firm we decided that all attorneys including associates would be included in the decision-making process. All management decisions must be passed by all attorneys in the firm. When we were smaller this worked okay but now that we are larger we are having problems. I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter.

  • October 25, 2016 | Practice News
    Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier to be installed as Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court

    The elevation of Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier to become Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court will be marked by an installation ceremony Monday, October 31, at the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield.

    Justice Karmeier will become the 120th Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.

    “I appreciate the confidence shown by the other members of the court in electing me to this position,” Chief Justice Karmeier said. “Since joining the court in 2004, I have had the privilege of serving under five different chief justices, all of whom have done an outstanding job. I will do my very best to live up to the high standard they have set.”

  • October 25, 2016 | Practice News
    Jacobs New 18th Judicial Circuit Associate Judge

    Chief Circuit Judge Kathryn E. Creswell is pleased to announce that following a tabulation of ballots by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield, the Circuit Judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Court, DuPage County, Illinois have appointed Brian W. Jacobs to the position of Associate Judge.
    Mr. Jacobs fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Associate Judge Karen M. Wilson to Circuit Judge.

  • October 24, 2016 | Practice News
    Winnebago County Public Defender position open

    The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court is accepting applications for the position of Winnebago County Public Defender. This position shall become vacant upon the retirement of the current Public Defender on December 31, 2016.


    SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
    The duties of the Public Defender are established by statute, (55 ILCS 5/3-4006). The Winnebago County Public Defender’s Office is appointed by the Court to represent indigent clients in felony, misdemeanor, traffic, juvenile delinquency and juvenile abuse / neglect cases. The Office is also involved in representation of adults and juveniles in connection with the Winnebago County Problem-Solving Courts.

  • October 21, 2016 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Cleary as Circuit Judge in the 10th Subcircuit of Cook County

    Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Gerald V. Cleary as a Cook County Circuit Judge in the 10th Subcircuit.

    Judge Cleary was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Donald J. Suriano, who is retiring on Nov. 2, 2016.

    The appointment takes effect Nov. 3, 2016 and will terminate on Dec. 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the 2018 General Election.

  • October 20, 2016 | Practice News
    Quick Takes on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions

    Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursdays's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the Civil case Carney v. Union Pacific R.R. Co. and the criminal cases People v. Jones and People v. Minnis.

    CIVIL

    Carney v. Union Pacific R.R. Co.

    By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan

    In affirming the circuit court’s grant of summary judgment to the defendant Union Pacific, and reversing the appellate court, which had decided this case with a Rule 23 Order, the supreme court significantly examined three sections of the Restatement (Second) of Torts which are frequently invoked in cases involving injuries during construction.  Justice Theis wrote for the court.  Justice Kilbride dissented.