Chicago Area

May 26, 2010 | Events

John Marshall to honor Leighton with Equal Justice Award

[caption id="attachment_11779" align="alignright" width="150" caption="George N. Leighton"][/caption] The John Marshall Law School will honor retired U.S. District Court Judge George N. Leighton with the inaugural George N. Leighton Equal Justice Award Thursday, June 10, at a reception and dinner beginning at 5 p.m. at The Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard. The George N. Leighton Equal Justice Award was established in honor of Judge Leighton’s devotion to protecting the rights of his clients and all citizens whatever their station in life. The award also reflects his longtime commitment and service to The John Marshall Law School as both an adjunct professor and his support of the law school’s mission of access and opportunity. Proceeds from the event establish the George N. Leighton Fellowship for the Study of Prisoners Rights at The John Marshall Law School and benefit the Edward T. and Noble W. Lee Chair in Constitutional Law.
May 26, 2010

Breaking legal news for Wednesday, May 26
Central Illinois
- Corrections officers again found not guilty, Peoria Journal Star
Chicago area
- Sonnenschein to combine with UK law firm Denton Wilde, Chicago Business
- Blago lawyers accuse judge of mishandling jury selection, Chicago Tribune
- Defendant gets ultimatum on court appearance, Daily Herald
This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.
May 25, 2010

Breaking legal news for Tuesday, May 25
Central Illinois
- Hearings for Tazewell County jailers resume, Peoria Journal Star
Chicago area
- Rolling Meadows settles lawsuit over police blockade, Daily Herald
- Prosecutors won't appeal ruling in DUI cop case, Chicago Tribune
Southern Illinois
- Judge Wharton removes himself from murder trial, Belleville News-Democrat
Nation
- Judge had inactive license; error disclosed after reprimand for being rude, using profanity, ABA Journal
May 24, 2010 | People

Finch launches Your Executive Life blog

[caption id="attachment_11678" align="alignright" width="150" caption="G. A. Finch"][/caption] G. A. Finch, a senior partner at Hoogendoorn & Talbot LLP, has launched Your Executive Life blog, which focuses on executive employment contracts, compensation, advancement and ethics. "This is an opportunity to consolidate my writings on these subjects and to provide an easily accessible resource to those persons who are interested," says Mr. Finch. "I look forward to engaging in conversations generated by my blog." Based in Chicago, Hoogendoorn & Talbot was formed by its two name partners who left their partnerships at Kirkland & Ellis 25 years ago to form a boutique practice. The law firm concentrates in business law, estate planning, real estate law, litigation and family law.
May 24, 2010

Breaking legal news for Monday, May 24
Chicago area
- High court rules for black Chicago firefighters, Chicago Tribune
- Questioning of potential Burge jurors begins today, Chicago Tribune
Northern Illinois
- Man in Sunday's standoff to appear in court, Rockford Register Star
SCOTUS
- Supreme Court allows antitrust suit over NFL's marketing agreement, ABA Journal
May 19, 2010 | Events

Solovy to deliver John Marshall commencement; Chief Judge Holderman to be honored

[caption id="attachment_11606" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jerold Solovy"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_11605" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Chief Judge James Holderman"][/caption] Jerold Solovy, Chairman Emeritus of Jenner & Block, LLP, will deliver the commencement address to 320 degree recipients of The John Marshall Law School on Sunday, May 23, at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers. Mr. Solovy will also receive an honorary degree - for his commitment to public service and pro bono work as well as his brilliant legal career. The school will also present an honorary degree to U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Holderman for his service to the judiciary as well as his efforts in continuing legal education, especially in the area of Intellectual Property.
May 19, 2010

Breaking legal news for Wednesday, May 19
Central Illinois
- Meth case leaves one man in jail, another man free, Springfield State Journal-Register
- Jury convicts Mendez of murder of 3-year-old boy, Bloomington Pantagraph
Chicago area
- Sentence for tax cheat: provide free from dresses, Chicago Tribune
- Trial under way for jail guard accused of aiding '06 escapes, Chicago Tribune
Nation
- "Quotable Judge Posner" is Law Prof's Life Project, ABA Journal
SCOTUS
- Senate panel sets Kagan hearings for late June, Chicago Tribune
May 18, 2010

Breaking legal news for Tuesday, May 18
State
- State audit raps Blagojevich for legal costs, Springfield State Journal-Register
Central Illinois
- Prosecutor: Boy died from being hit repeatedly in head, Bloomington Pantagraph
Chicago area
- Lake Co. judge threat case moves to McHenry Co. court, Daily Herald
- Kane Co. coroner indicted in TV theft, Chicago Tribune
- Glendale Heights dad admits fatally burning sons, Daily Herald
Nation
- Defense lawyer holds possible record for most clients sentenced to death, ABA Journal
May 18, 2010 | Practice News

Gamrath appointed as a Circuit Judge of Cook County

[caption id="attachment_11507" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Celia G. Gamrath"][/caption] The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Celia G. Gamrath as a Circuit Judge of Cook County, Eighth Subcircuit, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Thomas R. Chiola. This appointment is effective June 10, 2010, and terminates on December 3, 2012, Ms. Gamrath is a former judicial law clerk for the Honorable Thomas R. Rakowski of the First District Appellate Court of Illinois. She is a partner of Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP and concentrates in matrimonial law and appeals on behalf of individuals whose cases mainly involve the distribution of multi-million-dollar holdings and require sophisticated financial expertise. Ms. Gamrath has been recognized nationally as a top family law and appellate lawyer by Best Lawyers in America, Chicago Magazine’s Illinois Super Lawyers, the Leading Lawyers Network, and the Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch.” She is the recipient of several awards, including the Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the Illinois State Bar Association, the Alta May Hulett Award from the Chicago Bar Association, and The John Marshall Law School Distinguished Service Award. Ms. Gamrath graduated cum laude from The John Marshall Law School (J.D.) in 1994 and from Indiana University (B.S. in Business) in 1991. Ms.
May 18, 2010 | Events

Judges Foundation to honor circuit chiefs

The Illinois Judges Foundation will honor the chief judges of the state’s judicial circuits during its second annual Spring Reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 20, in the Renaissance Hotel, State Street and Wacker Drive, Chicago. Cook County Judge Jesse G. Reyes, president of the foundation, and Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans will participate in presentation to each circuit chief of a memento inscribed “Hail to the Chief.” The foundation also will welcome and honor the family of the late Harold W. Sullivan, a former Cook County presiding judge and founder of the Illinois Judges Association. The annual Judge Harold Sullivan Law School Scholarship is among beneficiaries of the reception. Others service projects that the foundation supports include the ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, the Second Chances Program, Chicago Access to Justice, and the “7 Reasons to Leave the Party” high school education presentations. Tickets to the reception, at $125 per person, include hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Law students may attend for $75 each. A portion of the contribution is tax-deductible. Reservations may be made by contacting the Illinois Judges Foundation office at (312) 554-2008 or ijf@chicagobar.org, or by accessing the web site, www.ijafoundation.org.