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Southern Illinois

  • August 19, 2013 | People
    Hon. John W. Day 1919-2013

    Retired Judge John W. Day, 94, went to his eternal reward at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at his family home. He was assisted by the Last Rites of the Catholic Church.

    He was born in Hamburg, Ill., Calhoun County, on Jan. 6, 1919, the son of former Calhoun Judge, John Day and Addie (Fowler) Day.

    On May 8, 1942, he married Wannie L. Bell who survives. They were engaged and married while he was stationed at the USMC Base at Nilan, Calif., for artillery school.  He graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in Illinois, Culver Stockton College in Missouri, and after World War II, received his Doctor of Juris Prudence from Washington University in St. Louis, with the help of the GI Bill.  He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Jacksonville, Ill. and before the start of World War II joined the United States Marine Corps. He participated in action against the enemy during the Battle of Midway, and was involved in the occupation and defense of Tinian and the Marianas Island Group.  He always stated that the best time of his life was when he was in the Corps.  Had he not been married, he maintained that he would have made a career of it.  He received his Honorable Discharge on Sept. 17, 1945, as a Sergeant and by the Grace of God returned home safely to Hardin, Ill., two days later on the 19th.

  • August 8, 2013 | People
    John W. Leskera 1931-2013

    John W. "Jack" Leskera, of Collinsville, IL, passed away on July 26, 2013 at his home.

    Jack was born on June 19, 1931. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Verna Leskera. Jack is survived by three children Karen Leskera (David Williams) of Belleville, Elizabeth Going (David) of St. Louis, and John H. Leskera (Jay) (Lillian) of Edwardsville, eight grandchildren, and his dog Merlot.

    Jack graduated from Collinsville High School in 1949 and was a member of the Kahok basketball and tennis teams. He attended the University of Illinois graduating with honors and receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953 and a law degree in 1955. Jack served as varsity manager of the Illini Basketball team in 1954. Jack remained loyal to Illinois by donating to the School of Law and the athletic department through the Varsity I Club. At Illinois he met his wife, Adele Haven, whom he married on February 5, 1955 in Lake Forest, IL.

  • July 2, 2013 | ISBA News | Events
    Law and Leadership Institute wraps up in Carbondale; kicks off in Chicago on July 22

    The ISBA/JTBF Law and Leadership Institute (LLI) wrapped up its residential program last week at the Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale. The downstate program is a one week residential program that ran from Sunday, June 23 through Saturday, June 29.

    The LLI is a statewide initiative to assist students from minority, ethnic, and other groups who are currently underrepresented in the legal professions achieve academic success and aspire to a career in the law.

    The two current programs in Illinois were spearheaded by the ISBA Diversity Pipeline committee. The Chicago commuter program will be held from Monday, July 22 through Friday, August 9 and hosted by the John Marshall Law School.

  • June 26, 2013 | People
    In Memory of Moses Harrison: Here lies the Champion of Liberty

    By John J. Hopkins, John J. Hopkins & Associates, Alton

    Jonathan Swift, the famed English satirist and political philosopher of the 18th Century, died in 1745.  As a final commentary, the acclaimed author of such works as “Gulliver’s Travels” left carved on his tombstone a fitting epitaph.  In Latin, it says, “Here lies the body of Jonathan Swift… where fierce indignation can no longer injure the Heart… Go forth voyager and copy, if you can, this vigorous Champion of Liberty.”

    I was reminded of Dr. Swift’s final words when I heard the news that a contemporary   “Champion of Liberty” had passed on through this world.  The Honorable Moses Harrison, late Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, died on Thursday, April 25at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis.   In respect for the lifetime of service to his fellow man, the first SIDEBAR column of 2013 is dedicated to his memory, both his remarkable professional accomplishments but also very fond remembrances of a towering legal figure who remained – despite the seductions of power – a devoted husband and father, active volunteer and loyal friend.

    While THIS Moses certainly did ascend to the Judicial mountain top, he never lost his connection to what he liked to call “the real folks.” As he often would tell, in his career he worked as a ranch hand, a truck driver and a Teamster, grounding him in reality and earning in the words of the Illinois Supreme Court in 2002, on the occasion of his retirement the “reputation for commitment to justice and human welfare, to defend the poor, the young and elderly against corporate or governmental policies which went against their interests.”

  • June 19, 2013 | Practice News
    McGlynn replaces Cook in St. Clair County

    The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Stephen P. McGlynn as a Resident Circuit Judge in  the 20th Circuit, St. Clair County. This vacancy was created by the resignation of the Hon. Michael N. Cook. This appointment is effective July 1, 2013 and terminates on Dec. 1, 2014.

  • May 29, 2013 | Events | People
    Madison County Bar Association elects officers at annual meeting

    The Madison County Bar Association elected officers at its annual meeting held at the Back Porch in Grantfork Illinois on May 23, 2013.  Officers for the 2013/2014 year are: President: David Jones of Beatty, Motil & Jones, Glen Carbon; 1st Vice President: Chris Threlkeld of Lucco, Brown, Threlkeld & Dawson LLC, Edwardsville; 2nd Vice President: Judge Ellar Duff (Ret.); Treasurer: Eric Carlson from Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb LLC, Edwardsville; Recording Secretary: Troy Walton of Schoen Walton Telken & Foster, LLC, East St. Louis; and David Weder of Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C.

    Outgoing President Angela Donohoo of Levo-Donohoo in Troy received a plaque in recognition of her efforts and accomplishments on behalf of the MCBA during the 2012/2013 years.

  • April 28, 2013 | People
    Former Chief Justice Moses W. Harrison II 1932-2013

    Chief Justice Moses W. Harrison II was a judge and a gentleman. Most of all, he was a friend and a champion of ordinary people. Chief Justice Harrison passed away Thursday, April 25, after a long illness. He was 81.

    "My former colleague, friend and mentor Chief Justice Harrison will be remembered as a prominent judge in Illinois legal history not because he was a great man, but because he never lost sight of the common man," said Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride "His commitment to equality and fairness went well beyond his simple, succinct, yet superlative opinions. He treated all people in all stations in life with the same kindness, dignity and respect. That fundamental decency guided his work as a judge, and his work guided Illinois law.

    "Illinois is a sadder place today because of his death, but it will forever be a better place because of his life."

    Justice Harrison was a member of the Illinois judiciary for 29 years; a member of the Illinois Supreme Court for 10 years; and Chief Justice from Jan. 1, 2000 to September 5, 2002, when he retired. His legacy is quite larger.

    A Chicago Tribune profile in 1999 described him as "a gentleman rebel, a distinctly gracious man whose convictions are firm and manners mild."

    During his tenure on the Supreme Court, he was most known and honored for demonstrating a commitment to justice and human welfare, writing—either for the majority or in dissent—to defend the poor, the weak, the young and the elderly against corporate or government policies which went against their interests.

  • April 16, 2013 | Practice News
    Sen. Durbin forms screening committee for open federal judgeships in Southern Illinois

    U.S. Senator Dick Durbin has announced the formation of a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges for the Southern District of Illinois. It has been announced that a judicial vacancy will open up in the Southern District in December, and the immediate task of the screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to Durbin for filling current and future vacancies.

  • April 12, 2013 | CLE
    CLE: Navigating the Residential Foreclosure Maze – 2013

    Foreclosure does not take place in a vacuum; rather, it can span across many boundaries of the law, making it imperative that attorneys from a wide-variety of practice areas stay up to date on this growing region. Get the direction you need to effectively navigate through the residential foreclosure process with this information full-day seminar in Collinsville on April 26th!

  • April 11, 2013 | People
    Sandberg Phoenix welcomes John Gilbert as new counsel

    The newest member of Sandberg Phoenix’s Edwardsville office, John Gilbert has an extensive portfolio of work and a wealth of experience representing some of the largest companies in the United States. 

    Sandberg Phoenix Managing Partner John Sandberg commented, “John is a tremendous attorney whose diverse background and deep knowledge of business law will add significant value to both existing and new clients for our firm. We’re very happy to have him on our team.”

    John studied at the University of Illinois (Phi Beta Kappa) and Washington University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois and before the United States Supreme Court, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States District Courts. John is a member of the Illinois State, Madison County and St. Clair County Bar Associations and currently serves on the ISBA Standing Committee on Mentoring and as chairman of the Hearing Board for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

    A former member of the Illinois Civil Service Commission from 1978 to 1991, John currently serves as a lecturer in Management and Marketing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, a position he has held since 1985, teaching courses in business ethics, business law, cyberlaw and labor and employment law.