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Southern Illinois

  • March 21, 2013 | People
    Charles William Fechtig 1932-2013

    Charles William Fechtig, 81, of Evansville, Ind. and formerly of Carmi, died Monday, Feb. 18, at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro. He was born February 3, 1932, in Carmi, to William (Willie) and Nell Fechtig. He married Frances Ruth (Winter) Fechtig on Dec. 28, 1952, in Carmi, who preceded him in death on February 19, 2012.

    Bill was educated in White county rural schools and graduated from Carmi High School in 1948 and the University of Illinois in 1952. He served as an officer in the United State Marine Corps from 1953-1957 and later returned to the University of Illinois graduating from its School of Law in 1960 earning membership in The Order of the Coif and serving as Editor-in-Chief of its law review.

    Following his admission to practice, Bill was a general practitioner in Carmi for 27 years with an emphasis in real estate and mineral law, contracts and appellate law. In 1987, he became In-House Counsel for Marathon Oil Company in Robinson. After retirement from Marathon in 2000, he and Frances relocated to Evansville, Ind. where he returned to private law practice.

    Bill also was a Licensed Pastor of the United Methodist Church and served as Pastor of three White County churches - Big Prairie, Concord and Maunie – from 1987 until 2012.

    He is survived by: brothers, Norman (Margie) Fechtig of Carmi and Allen (Mary Ruth) Fechtig of Albany, Ore.; three daughters, Amy (David) Wood, of Allen, Tx., Mary (Elizabeth Estes) of Chicago and Martha (Jeff) Ahlers of Evansville, Ind.; a grandson, Nick Ahlers; and several nieces and nephews.

  • March 20, 2013 | People
    Hon. Joseph David Christ 1963-2013

    The Honorable Joseph Donald Christ, devoted husband, loving father, caring son, dedicated brother, and loyal friend, passed away March 10, 2013. Joe graduated from Lebanon High School with the class of ’82, received his bachelor’s from ISU in ’86, and received his law degree from Thomas Cooley in ’93. He worked as a prosecuting attorney for 18 years in St. Clair County before he was recently sworn in as a judge for the same county. Joe was sincere in his efforts to help others, and he was loved and respected by all. He will be deeply missed.

    He was preceded in death by his father Donald Jule Christ; paternal grandparents Oliver J. And Amelia (Lebert) Christ; and maternal grandparents John and Mary (Muck) Fohne.

    He is survived by wife Tari (Soehlke) and six children of O'Fallon, Il: five daughters Amelia, Natalena “Lena”, Josephine “Josy”, Mary, Louisa, and one son, August “Gus”; his mother Elizabeth “Betty”(Fohne) Christ; father and mother-in-law Jim and Pat Soehlke; sisters Mary Jo (John) Pehle of Manhattan, IL, Donna Christ Seipp of O'Fallon, Il, brothers Steven Christ, Mark (Carrie) Christ, and John (Terri) Christ, all of Lebanon, IL; sisters- and brothers-in-law Tami Hudson of O’Fallon, IL, Timi (Brad) McMillin, Jim (Laura) Soehlke, all of O’Fallon, IL, and Traci (Dave) Olmstead of Brentwood, TN; and 11 nieces, 12 nephews, 6 great nieces, and 9 great nephews.

    Memorials can be made to the “Christ Children Education Fund” at Carrollton Bank, 1911 Frank Scott Parkway Suite 4, O’Fallon, IL 62269. (618) 624-3034 Memorial Masses may be offered at St. Francis De Sales 2653 Ohio Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118.

  • February 27, 2013 | People
    Dwight Franklin Bickel 1931-2013

    Dwight Franklin Bickel, 81, passed away on January 16, 2013, at his home in Phoenix, Ariz., following a recent illness. He was born February 1, 1931, to former mayor Melvin J. Bickel and Ethel M. (Hackley) Bickel in Trilla, Ill. Dwight grew up in Trilla and Charleston, Ill., where he married Barbara Carrolyn Alexander in 1949; they had two children, and later divorced. He married Cynthia (Gross) Petrie of Emmett, Idaho, in 1969, and they had a son together.

    Dwight began college at the University of Michigan, served in the Air Force during the Korean war, then attended the University of Illinois where he earned his B.S. degree, 1955, followed by his Juris Doctor degree, 1957. After completing his education, he began practicing as a lawyer in Charleston. In 1958 he and his family moved to Boise, Idaho, where he served as Idaho's Assistant Attorney General from 1959-1963, and started a private law practice that he continued for the rest of his life.

  • February 21, 2013 | Practice News
    Christ, Kolker appointed associate judges in 20th Circuit

    Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Wednesday that the circuit judges of the 20th Judicial Circuit voted to select Joseph D. Christ and Christopher T. Kolker as associate judges of the 20th Judicial Circuit. As no candidate received a majority of votes to fill the third vacancy, a runoff is necessary.

    Mr. Christ received his undergraduate degrees in 1986 from Illinois State University in Normal and his Juris Doctor in 1993 from the Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Christ is currently affiliated with the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office in Belleville.

    Mr. Kolker received his undergraduate degree in 1989 from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona and his Juris Doctor in 1998 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Mr. Kolker is currently engaged in practice with the Kolker Law Offices, P.C., in Belleville.

  • February 1, 2013 | CLE
    CLE – 40 Hour Mediation/Arbitration Training

    Mediation is designed to resolve differences both in and out of the courts. It requires a very different mindset than courtroom litigation. Join us in Grafton on February 18th for this week-long mediation training and learn how to resolve conflicts in a non-adversarial, non-confrontational manner, allowing peaceful resolutions between parties.

    The program is taught by Richard Calkins and Fred Lane—two nationally recognized mediators, authors and educators. Until 20 years ago, both Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane were well-known and highly regarded litigators. Since then, however, they have successfully mediated over 5,000 cases.

    The program qualifies for 40.0 hours MCLE credit, including 40.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (PMCLE subject to approval).

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • January 25, 2013 | People
    Mathis, Marifian & Richter names Laura Schrick as Shareholder

    The law firm of Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. (MM&R), today announced that Laura E. Schrick has been named a shareholder effective Jan. 1, 2013. Schrick, a resident of the City of St. Louis, has been an associate with MM&R since 2009.

    Schrick practices tort and commercial litigation.  She has successfully represented individuals and businesses in a variety of federal and state court matters. She is licensed in Illinois and Missouri and is admitted to practice before the Illinois and Missouri state courts, as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Illinois, the Eastern District of Missouri, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  She was named to the 2013 Illinois Rising Stars list, an award recognizing the top 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state as determined by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business.

    Schrick is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association, St. Clair County Bar Association, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL). She is active in her community serving as a member of the Leadership Belleville Class of 2013, Family Hospice Board of Directors, and an Adjunct Instructor of Paralegal Studies at Southwestern Illinois College.

    For more information about Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. visit www.mmrltd.comor call 618.234.9800.

  • January 14, 2013 | People
    William P. Novick 1952-2012

    William Paul "Bill" Novick, 60, passed away at on Dec. 16 at his home.

    He was born Wednesday, July 23, 1952, in Carbondale, the son of William J. and Clara Ruth (Paul) Novick.

    Bill attended school in Marion and graduated from Marion High School in 1968. He continued his college education by attending at the University of Illinois in Champaign, and later at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he received his Law degree.

    Most of his working career was with his law practice in Marion. He was in partnership with his father under the law firm name of Novick Law Office, until his father retired in 2011. The only time he practiced law outside of Marion was when he was a corporate attorney in Texas for three years.

    Bill was united in marriage to Paula Anne Cox on Friday, Nov. 16, 2001, in Marion, and together they have shared the last 11 years of mar-riage.

    He was of Baptist faith.

    In his spare time, he enjoyed barbequing and spending time with his many friends that meant a lot to him; playing the guitar and singing many of his own songs that he had written and he was an avid sports fan. He also will be remembered for the many donated hours of legal advice and work he did for those who had a need.

  • January 9, 2013 | People
    Mary Teresa Schroeder 1954-2012

    Mary Teresa Schroeder, nee Balestri, 57, of Mascoutah, IL born Dec. 2, 1954 in LaSalle, IL, died Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Cookeville, TN.

    Mary was an attorney for the Schroeder and Schroeder Law Firm in Mascoutah for 32 years. During her years of service, Mary took a particular pride in ensuring the well-being of all her clients. She graduated in 1972 from LaSalle-Peru High School. Continuing her education she graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL where she majored in history. She was in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 1980. She was a member of Holy Childhood Catholic Church, Holy Childhood Church Board, Mascoutah Lioness Club, Main Street Mascoutah and Mascoutah Chamber of Commerce. Serving all these organizations, Mary held many official capacities.

    She was preceded in death by her father Aldo J. Balestri, father-in-law, Meryl T. Schroeder, sister-in-law, Diane Balestri and a brother-in-law, Robert Connolly.

  • November 7, 2012 | Practice News
    Results from Tuesday’s judicial elections for all circuits outside of Cook

    Here are the results for Tuesday's judicial elections for all circuits outside of Cook.

    View the 1st District results

  • October 8, 2012 | ISBA News | Practice News
    Special Committee on Law School Debt to hold statewide hearings

    The Illinois State Bar Association's Special Committee on Law School Debt, formed by President John E. Thies, will hold five open hearings throughout the state. ISBA members are encouraged to attend these meetings to discuss how increasing law school debt is impacting the delivery of legal services.

    The Committee is particularly interested in hearing about the impact of law school debt in the following situations:

    1. Recruitment and retention of new lawyers in small- and medium-size firms
    2. Decisions by lawyers to open practices in small communities
    3. Recruitment and retention of new lawyers working for legal aid organizations
    4. Financial ability of new lawyers to open solo practices (and possible liability and ethical consequences resulting there from);
    5. Availability of lawyers being willing to perform pro bono services;
    6. Opportunity for new lawyers to advance from entry level positions in the profession.

    Hearing Schedule

    The hearings will held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the following locations:

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