Southern Illinois

The ISBA was well represented at the Southern Illinois University’s Women in Leadership Dinner, which was held Jan. 10 in Carbondale.

Pictured above are ISBA Board of Governors Member Perry Browder, Tamara Cain, ISBA President Elect Dennis Orsey, Jennifer Thompson, and Megan Orso.

They keynote speaker was Hon. Nancy Rosenstengel, who is the Chief United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois.

Judge Henry Lewis, of Carmi, Illinois, was born on May 26, 1926 in Carmi and died peacefully, surrounded by family and loved ones, on Thursday, November 28, 2019.  Judge Lewis was the son of Rev. Henry Lewis and Helen Myrtle Pedersen, and the stepson of Julius P. Botsch.  He is survived by his wife of 68 years,Pat C. Lewis of Carmi, four children, Jeff (Paula) Lewis of Indianapolis, Indiana, Kathy (Rick) Williams, of Louisville, Kentucky, Dan (Jennifer) Lewis of Merrillville, Indiana, and Sarah Johnston, of Carmi. Papa Henry was the beloved grandfather of  nine grandchildren, David (Mitra) Lewis, Kristin Lewis, Daniel (Jen) Williams, Taylor (Blair) Hartman, Ben (Courtney) Williams, Claire (Ben) Bellamy, Duncan Lewis, Margaret (Jason) Maxwell and Henry (Emily)Johnston, and great grandfather of  Hank Hartman, Owen Lewis, Ruthie Hartman, Augie Johnston, Eleanor Bellamy, Miles Johnston, Wesley Geary, Jocie Geary, plus, two more in utero arriving soon!  He is also survived by his sister, Enid Thuermer, was predeceased by his parents, his stepfather, and his brother Robert Lewis.

Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices welcomed 1,459 new attorneys to the legal profession on Nov. 7 during admissions ceremonies held at five different locations across the state. 

ISBA staff members were in attendance at all five ceremonies to welcome the state's newest attorneys to the profession, take photos, and talk about the benefits of ISBA membership, which is free for one year for new admittees. Member benefits can be activated by filling out the New Admittee Membership Form. 

All of those who were sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They bring the total number of Illinois-licensed attorneys to approximately 96,500.

More than 120 members of the Madison County Bar Association met on Oct. 24 to celebrate Pro Bono Week.

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier made the keynote remarks. The 2019 Pro Bono Service Award was presented to David Fahrenkamp, and the Rising Pro Bono Star Award went to Rebecca Hausman of Simmons, Hanley, Conroy.