More than 400 New Illinois Lawyers Admitted on May 10

New attorneys were admitted to practice in Illinois on May 10, with Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices presiding and administering the attorney's oath to 401 new attorneys at five separate locations across the state. 

All of the candidates 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 licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,500.

The largest group, 275, was admitted in the First Judicial District during three ceremonies at the James R. Thompson Center Assembly Hall, located at 100 W. Randolph St., in Chicago. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the first ceremony, Illinois Appellate Justice Cynthia Y. Cobbs presided over the second ceremony, and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis presided over the last ceremony.  

Guests of the morning ceremony included Andrew M. Raucci of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; Hon. Thomas R. Mulroy, president of the Chicago Bar Association; and Debjani Dasgupta, president of the South Asian Bar Association.  

Guests of the second First District ceremony included Dartesia A. Pitts, president of the Cook County Bar Association; Kristen Barnette McCarthy, president of the Women's Bar Association; and Arlene Coleman of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. 

Guests of the afternoon ceremony included Thomas A. Clancy of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; Hon. Russell W. Hartigan, president of the Illinois State Bar Association; and Kristen M. Kozlowski, president of the Advocates Society. 

In addition to Chicago, ceremonies were held in Springfield, Elgin, Ottawa, and Collinsville.  
 
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman presided over the Fourth Judicial District ceremony, which was held in the Courtroom of the Illinois Supreme Court Building, 200 E. Capitol Ave., in Springfield.  
 
Illinois Appellate Court Justice Michael J. Burke presided over the Second Judicial District ceremony, which was held at Hemmens Memorial Building in the Elgin Civic Center Plaza, 45 Symphony Way, in Elgin.  
 
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride presided over the Third Judicial District ceremony, which was held at the Third District Appellate Courthouse, 1004 Columbus St., in Ottawa.  
 
Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided over the Fifth Judicial District ceremony at Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Dr., in Collinsville.