Please join us at the 15th Annual Holiday Party and show your support for the IBF/ YLD Children’s Assistance Fund. Initially created to assist with the opening of children’s waiting rooms in courthouses across the State of Illinois, the IBF/YLD Children’s Assistance Fund has since grown, and now provides funding to organizations across the State of Illinois that provide legal assistance to children, maintain children’s waiting rooms in courthouses, work to reduce recidivism of juveniles, and/or work to reduce the incidents of domestic violence in families with children. The YLD has raised more than $350,000.00 for the Children’s Assistance Fund over the past 14, due, in large part, to the widespread support and participation in our annual Holiday Party. We hope that you will help us continue this worthy tradition by joining us in person or, if you cannot attend, by contributing to the cause.WHEN: Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.WHERE: Cubby Bear Lounge, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago, IllinoisWHAT: Open Bar, Warm Appetizers, and Live Music by Rod Tuffcurls & the Bench Press!COST: $40 per personAlternatively, please consider participating in our “Friends of the Children” sponsorship campaign. All participants will be thanked, with logos displayed, both during and after the Holiday Party.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced on Tuesday that the Hon. Robert G. Kleeman, Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit, is appointed Circuit Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit, at Large, to the position presently held by the Honorable Hollis L. Webster, who is retiring from judicial office on Dec. 31, 2012.This appointment is effective Feb. 4, 2013, and terminates on Dec. 1, 2014.

Tweet about ISBA member benefits throughout the month of November and be entered to win a new iPad Mini. Throughout the month of November (2012) we are running an "ISBA Membership is Tweet!" Twitter campaign for our members. We're encouraging members to post a "Tweet" to the Twitter hash tag - #isbabenefits – for the chance to win 1 of 3 iPad Minis that we will be giving away*.  Tweets should answer one of the following questions:What is your favorite ISBA member benefit and why?How has an ISBA member benefit made a difference in your ability to practice more affordably and/or effectively?How will the new ISBA Free CLE benefit help you and your practice?Find out more and read what fellow members have tweeted at www.isba.org/isbamit

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select René Cruz as an associate judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.Mr. Cruz received his undergraduate degree in 1992 from The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, and his Juris Doctor in 1995 from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Mr. Cruz is currently engaged in practice with the Law Offices of Gil & Cruz in Aurora.