The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Central Illinois

  • March 17, 2014 | People
    C. Joseph Cavanagh 1932-2014

    C. Joseph Cavanagh, 81, of Springfield, died at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at Bruns House in Alamo, CA.

    Joe was born on September 24, 1932 in Jacksonville, IL, the son of Thomas Edward and Agnes Kane Cavanagh.  He married Sandy Spenceley on September 3, 1959 in Washington, DC.

    He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, William K. Cavanagh, Sr. and Thomas Edward Cavanagh.

    Joe attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Springfield High School.  He was a graduate of Georgetown University College in 1955 and Law School in 1960, in Washington, D.C. Joe served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, and was a special agent of the Army counter intelligence corps. He was a member of the Illinois State and Sangamon County Bar Associations and Knights of Columbus Council #364.  Joe practiced law as an assistant State’s Attorney and Public Defender.  As a private practioner, he officed with his brother William K. Cavanagh, ran and was elected Sangamon County State’s Attorney and served two terms.  He was elected and proudly served as a Resident Circuit Judge for Sangamon County, serving for a time as Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit.    

  • March 13, 2014 | CLE
    CLE: General Practice Update 2014: Quincy Regional Event

    Join us in Quincy on Friday, March 28th to get the updates you need on a number of general practice areas! Topics include: courtroom probate practice; technology to help your practice; bankruptcy advice for disability clients; using social media as evidence; current criminal law trends; conceal and carry laws; insurance issues; limited scope representation; and office risk management. General practice attorneys with all levels of practice and experience will benefit from attending this informative seminar.

    The program is presented by the ISBA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section and co-sponsored by the Adams County Bar Association. It qualifies for 7.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • March 11, 2014 | People
    Colette Bailey 1955-2014

    Colette Bailey, age 58, of Peoria, formerly of Glenview, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, after a brief illness.

    She was the beloved daughter of Peggy Bailey and the late R. Emmett Bailey; dear sister of Vicky Coleman; loving aunt of Bob (Renee) Coleman, Laura (Brian) Brehart and John (Tracy) Coleman; and cherished great-aunt of Bobby, Ryan, Lyla and Emma.

    Colette was a graduate of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Regina Dominican, St. Mary's University in Minnesota and DePaul University.

    She was an attorney in private practice and a public defender in Peoria.

    Colette served on numerous boards, including the YWCA, the Women's Fund for the PACF, the Junior League and more. She volunteered for many other programs and was a lifetime member of the Phi Gamma Nu Sorority. Colette was named in the 40 Leaders Under 40 in 1995 by the Peoria Magazine and was also named to the Peoria Chamber of Commerce 25 Women in Leadership in 2000. She received the Louise Alloy Volunteer of the Year Award in 1998 from WTVP Channel 47 in Peoria.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sister Paulanne's Needy Family Fund, c/o Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

    For more information, call (847) 675-1990 or visit www.donnellanfuneral.com.

  • March 11, 2014 | People
    Don Cadagin 1940-2014

    Don Cadagin, 73, of Springfield, died on Friday, March 7, 2014 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, SC.

    Don was born November 25, 1940 in Springfield, the son of Frank A. and Gertrude O’Leary Cadagin. He married Kathryn Holl on December 20, 1975 at Blessed Sacrament
    Catholic Church in Springfield.

    Don graduated from Cathedral Boys High School and proudly served his country in the United States Army. He later received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law, and was admitted to the bar in 1972. Judge Cadagin has served as assistant State's Attorney, Public Defender, and Sangamon County State's Attorney. He was elected circuit judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit in 1994, and retained that position until his retirement July 8, 2005. Don was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church as well as the Sangamon County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association.

    He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Edward, James, Jack, Robert, and Richard “Dick” Cadagin; and one sister-in-law, Jackie Cadagin.

    He is survived by his wife, Kathy Cadagin of Springfield; two sons, Sean (wife, Amanda Atkins) Cadagin of Chicago and Ryan Cadagin (fiancé, Katherine Dinges) of Springfield; one daughter, Meghan (husband, Bobby) Noll of Springfield; one grandson, Daniel Cadagin; three sisters, Mary (husband, Marvin) Farmer of Springfield, Patricia (husband, Larry) Snodgrass of Batavia, and Rita (husband, Ed) Norris of Springfield; and many nieces and nephews.

  • February 20, 2014 | ISBA News | Events
    Volunteers needed for ISBA Mock Trial Invitational

    Are you interested in sharpening your trial skills from different perspective, improving the public image of attorneys in Illinois, performing an important public service, evaluating a group of talented and hard-working students in a state-wide competition or just doing something different on the weekend?

    If so, this year’s ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational is for you!  It will take place on Saturday and Sunday, March 8th and 9th, 2014, at the University of Illinois School of Law in Champaign, Illinois.

  • February 14, 2014 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court approves cameras for Peoria County courts

    Remaining 10th Circuit counties will join in 60 days

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced on Friday that news cameras and microphones will be allowed in trial courtrooms in Peoria County in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Peoria County becomes the 36th county in Illinois to participate in the pilot project allowing cameras in trial courtrooms.

    Under Local Rule 15, the remaining four counties in the Circuit will also join the pilot project in 60 days, bringing the grand total of participating counties in Illinois to 40 and the total number of participating circuits to 14. The 10th Judicial Circuit consists of Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark and Tazewell counties in central Illinois.

  • February 12, 2014 | People
    Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund elects new chair, board members
    Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. announces the election of Ward F. McDonald as chair of the board of directors for the organization, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2014.

    McDonald has a long history with ATG and was instrumental in its early growth and success. His efforts in the late 1960s and 1970s, starting as executive vice president, then president, ensured that founder Stanley Balbach’s vision took root.

    “Ward’s 45-year history with ATG provides the board, staff and ATG members with a chair who has a great perspective on who we are, where we have been, and where we are going,” said current ATG president, Peter Birnbaum.

    After leaving ATG in 1983 to pursue a private practice, McDonald continued to serve on the ATG board. As 2014 chair, McDonald will preside over board meetings, have a seat on key ATG committees, and interact with ATG’s executive staff on long-range planning and financial decisions that affect the company.

  • February 10, 2014 | People
    Anthony "Tony" Novak 1950-2014

    Anthony "Tony" Novak of Urbana passed away Saturday (Feb. 8, 2014) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after losing his battle with cancer. He was 63.

    Tony is survived by his wife, Amy Fuller; his son, Henry; his mother, Anna Novak-Heller; his brother, Rick; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

    A devoted criminal defense attorney, Tony worked to ensure the justice system delivered on its promise of a fair trial.

    He was active in the Jewish community, and was a past president of Sinai Temple and the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation.

    He was passionate about tennis, skiing, bowling, boating, water-skiing and his friends.

    He picked up friends across the spectrum and around the country; he collected people, art, funky furniture, toys and experiences.

    He loved a good meal at a dive; pie; his mother's cooking; a good ski trip; a long story.

    If an argument broke out, or someone voiced a harsh opinion of someone else, Tony's booming voice would interrupt with the solution that pleased the most parties, or made the most sense. He was a mediator of conflicts large and small, and he relied on a strong sense of justice to mete out his decisions.

    His house represents him to his friends and family. It's independent, like Tony - outside of town, out of the way. It's colorful, filled with the quirky furniture and art that he collected over the years. It's filled with the memories that show his life was full, even if it ended too soon.

    The house, and the woods behind it - the neighbors and family and friends who frequently visited both can go there to remember him.

  • January 15, 2014 | Practice News
    Applications being accepted for circuit court vacancy in 11th Circuit

    Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Circuit Court vacancy in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

    The Woodford County resident circuit vacancy is created by the retirement of Judge John B. Huschen on March 31, 2014. Judge Huschen has been a resident Circuit Judge since 1998.

  • January 10, 2014 | Practice News
    Federal Defender position open in Central Illinois

    The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is accepting applications from all qualified applicants for the position of Federal Defender for the Central District of Illinois headquartered in Peoria. The Federal Defender provides federal criminal defense services to individuals unable to afford counsel. The courts are an equal opportunity employer.

    An applicant should have the following qualifications: (1) a member in good standing in the bar of each state in which admitted to practice; (2) a minimum of five years criminal practice experience, preferably with significant experience in federal criminal defense at the trial and appellate levels, which demonstrates an ability to provide zealous representation of consistently high quality to criminal defendants; (3) the ability to effectively administer the office; (4) a reputation for integrity; (5) a commitment to the representation of those unable to afford counsel; and (6) have demonstrated a commitment to equal justice under the law. Applications can be obtained by accessing the website of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
    at www.ca7.uscourts.gov.

    Completed applications are due before the close of business on February 24, 2014, and are to be sent to:

    • Collins T. Fitzpatrick
    • Circuit Executive
    • United States Court of Appeals
    • for the Seventh Circuit
    • 219 S. Dearborn Street, Rm 2780
    • Chicago, Illinois 60604