The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Thomas E. Griffith, Jr., an attorney for 25 years, has been appointed a circuit judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Griffith was appointed to fill the Circuit Court vacancy created by the November 3, 2010 retirement of Judge Theodore E. Paine. The appointment is effective February 4, 2011 and will expire December 3, 2012.
Justice Rita B. Garman recommended the appointment of Mr. Griffith after a review process by a special citizen screening committee. The committee unanimously recommended Mr. Griffith to fill the at-large circuit court vacancy.
Mr. Griffith graduated cum laude from Millikin University with a B.A. degree in History. He received his juris doctor degree from Tulsa University Law School in 1985. Before his appointment to the bench, Mr. Griffith worked for 23 years as a partner with the law firm of Erickson, Davis, Murphy, Johnson, Griffith & Walsh, Ltd. in Decatur.
From 1985 to 1987, Mr. Griffith served as Macon County assistant state’s attorney. He has been a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar since September 2002.
A resident of Decatur, Mr. Griffith is married with four children.
The Sixth Judicial Circuit is comprised of six counties: Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt.
Practice News
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January 12, 2011 |
Practice News
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January 11, 2011 |
Practice News
The full Illinois Senate passed a ban on the death penalty today on a vote of 32-25. It now heads to Gov. Quinn's desk. The measure passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 7-4 earlier today. It passed the House last week. Read more in the Chicago Tribune and Springfield State Journal-Register
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January 7, 2011 |
Practice News
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the formation of a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges for the Northern District of Illinois. There are currently three vacant judgeships in the Northern District, and the immediate task of the screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to Durbin for filling current and future vacancies. Applications for these positions are available on Senator Durbin’s website. The deadline for submission of completed applications is Monday, Jan. 31. The screening committee will be comprised of 10 distinguished Illinoisans drawn from various aspects of the legal profession including former judges, prominent litigators, bar association leaders, and former prosecutors and defenders. Dick Devine, former Cook County State’s Attorney and current partner at the law firm of Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson LLP, will chair the committee. (A complete list and short bios of all panel members is included below.) “Making recommendations to the White House on judicial nominees is one of the most important jobs I have as a U.S. Senator, and I am particularly pleased that these outstanding Illinoisans have agreed to advise me in selecting the best possible candidates to recommend to President Obama,” said Durbin.
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January 6, 2011 |
Practice News
It took two tries, but the Illinois House passed a ban on the death penalty by a 60-54 vote. It failed by a single vote on the first try. Read more in the Chicago Tribune.
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January 5, 2011 |
Practice News
Okay, not dummies. Rookies. If any of your p.i. clients' medical bills have been paid by Medicare (highly likely), you should get an early start on the laborious and complicated process of making sure Medicare gets its due. Otherwise, the feds can hold up your case and your client's payday. So writes Angelica Wawrzynek in the latest issue of the ISBA YLDNews. And, she wryly observes, "Medicare started having liens on cases after many of your senior partners started practicing, and the procedures for getting these liens resolved have become more and more particular over the years. Make yourself a valuable part of the team by mastering the process." How? Here's how.
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January 5, 2011 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am a 55-year-old sole practitioner in Chicago. I have two staff employees. I have recently been thinking about what I would do if I became sick or disabled? How would I take care of my clients and my employees? Would you share your thoughts in this regard? A. While many lawyers and law firms are beginning to think about long range succession issues and the need for long range succession plans, many have not yet addressed the shorter range issues. At a recent presentation on succession/exit planning I was asked by a lawyer in the group the following question: “What if something happens to me today or tomorrow – what is my backup plan?" My presentation was focused on the longer term retirement issues but I also need to address issues such as short term illness, disability, death, and even vacations. Many solo lawyers are in “reactionary mode” and have not adequately prepared backup plans in the event that, in the short term – prior to retirement – something would happen to them.
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January 5, 2011 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select ISBA Assembly member Thomas A. Else and Anthony V. Coco as associate judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Mr. Else received his undergraduate degree in 1979 from Elmhurst College, and his Juris Doctor in 1982 from DePaul University. Mr. Else is currently engaged in solo practice in Wheaton. Mr. Coco received his undergraduate degree in 1990 from Indiana University and his Juris Doctor in 1993 from Chicago Kent. Mr. Coco is currently affiliated with the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office in Wheaton.
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January 5, 2011 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that the Ninth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Heidi A. Benson as an associate judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Ms. Benson received her undergraduate degree in 1994 from Knox College, Galesburg, and her Juris Doctor in 1997 from the University of Illinois. Ms. Benson is currently affiliated with Flack, McRaven & Stephens in Macomb.
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January 2, 2011 |
Practice News
What started at a New Year's Day party on Jan. 1, 1976 has become an institution--the list of banished words for the coming year from Lake Superior State University. You may find the list and background here. (Hat tip to Ray Ward of the (new) legal writer.)
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December 30, 2010 |
Practice News
The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill continuing unlimited FDIC coverage for Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA). Click here to read a statement from ABA President Stephen Zack. Click here to read previous coverage on Illinois Lawyer Now.