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Chicago Area

  • September 9, 2009 | Practice News
    List of applicants for DuPage judge vacancy released
    Chief Judge Stephen J. Culliton announced Tuesday that applications for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, DuPage County have been received from the following:
    • Allan C. Alongi, Clarendon Hills
    • Audriana T. Anderson, Wheaton
    • Brenda M. Carroll, Winfield
    • Anthony V. Coco, Glen Ellyn
    • Kimberly A. Davis, Winfield
    • Robert E. Douglas, Carol Stream
    • Thomas F. Downing, West Chicago
    • Scott M. Hardek, Elmhurst
    • John Paul Kelly, Wheaton
    • Frank J. Markov, Jr., Lombard
    • Sean M. McCumber, Warrenville
    • Robert S. McDonough, Wheaton
    • Alex F. McGimpsey, III, Glen Ellyn
    • Ronald D. Menna, Jr., Wheaton
    • Robert A. Miller, West Chicago
    • Michelle L. Moore, Glen Ellyn
    • Brian N. Nigohosian, Darien
    • Michael A. O'Brien, Wheaton
    • James D. Orel, Westmont
    • John J. Pcolinski, Jr. Naperville
    • David E. Schwartz, Glen Ellyn
    • Alfred A. Spitzzeri, Naperville
    • Neal F. Thompson, Naperville
    The vacancy is the results of the retirement of Associate Judge Mark W. Dwyer. As part of the review process conducted by the Circuit Judges, Chief Judge Culliton invites public comment by letter before Sept. 18, 2009: Chief Judge Stephen J. Culliton 18th Judicial Circuit Court 505 N. County Farm Road, Room 2015 Wheaton, IL 60187
  • September 9, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA's Legal Health Checkup runs in DuPage, Kane and Lake counties
    Subscribers to the Daily Herald in DuPage, Kane, and Lake counties awoke today to the third edition of the ISBA's Legal Health Checkup. The 12-page insert informs readers of legal situations they may face, and promotes use of a lawyer. A total of 114,000 Daily Herald readers received the Legal Health Checkup, which is a project of the ISBA Committee on Strategic Marketing for Illinois Lawyers. Topics covered include Patients' Rights, Foreclosure Scams, Legal Rights on the Job, Child Support and Estate Planning. The Checkup's bottom line message is that legal problems require the assistance of a lawyer. Readers are urged to consult their lawyer, and if they need help in finding a lawyer, ISBA's Illinois Lawyer Finder Service is promoted, along with the lawyer referral services of the DuPage, Kane and Lake county bar associations.
  • September 8, 2009
    Court Friends of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court seeking volunteers
    The 18th Judicial Circuit Court in DuPage County is seeking volunteers for its Court Friends program. The program, established in 1996 insures that disabled adults, the elderly and those afflicted with mental/physical challenges are not neglected by caregivers or guardians. The Court Friends Program is overseen by Associate Judge Thomas C. Dudgeon. Volunteers may be asked to review court records, update files and/or interview individuals. Short reports are then processed by the volunteers for the courts' review. Interested persons are encouraged to stop by the Volunteer Recruitment Fair which will be held at Cantigny Park, 1 S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, to sign up for the program. Volunteers may also apply by calling Caryl Doty at (630) 407-8831.
  • September 8, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Tuesday, September 8

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Northern Illinois

    Southern Illinois

  • September 2, 2009
    Equality for Kids campaign succeeds despite economic crunch
    Equip for Equality is proud to announce that its Equality for Kids Campaign raised more than $235,000 in its first year.  The Campaign secures critical funding for Equip for Equality's Special Education Clinic and other disability rights initiatives, and will allow the organization to increase its pro bono efforts on behalf of kids with disabilities.  Attorney General Lisa Madigan is serving as the Honorary Chairperson of the Campaign Committee, which was launched with funding from the American Bar Association's Litigation Section and the Lawyers Trust Fund from Illinois. "Despite the economic downturn, leaders in the legal and business community have been incredibly generous," said Duane Quaini, former Chairperson of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, and a Campaign Co-Chair. "Equip for Equality's mission and its reputation for obtaining positive results for students with disabilities is compelling and has motivated many donors to invest their limited charitable dollars in the Campaign."  As the parent of a person with a significant developmental disability, Mr.
  • September 1, 2009 | ISBA News
    Illinois Bar Foundation announces grant recipients
    The Illinois Bar Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), has announced the recipients of its new grants totaling $304,965 awarded to 32 law-related nonprofit organizations, including: Chicago
    • Apna Ghar, Inc., $7,500
    • Cabrini Green Legal Aid, $15,000
    • CARPLS, $25,000
    • Center for Conflict Resolution, $5,000
    • Center on Halsted, $5,000
    • Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers, $8,000
    • Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, $15,000
    • Equip for Equality, $20,000
    • Family Rescue, $7,500
    • Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice, $10,000
    • Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, $5,000
    • Illinois Legal Aid Online, $20,000
    • Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, $7,500
    • Legal Aid Bureau of Metropolitan Family Services, $10,000
    • Public Interest Law Initiative, $15,000
    • Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, $5,000
    Elsewhere in Illinois
    • CASA of Franklin County, Benton, $2,500
    • CASA of Jefferson County, Mt. Vernon, $2,000
    • CASA of McHenry County, Woodstock, $2,000
    • Center for Prevention of Abuse, Peoria, $5,000
    • Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois, Springfield, $13,465
    • Macon County CASA, Decatur, $5,000
    • Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., Rockford, $15,000
    • St. Clair County CASA, Belleville, $10,000
    • Dove Domestic Violence Program, Decatur, $10,000
    • Life Span, Des Plaines, $10,000
    • Catholic Urban Programs/Neighborhood Law Office, East St.
  • August 31, 2009 | Member Services
    Last chance to take the 2009 ISBA Membership Survey and enter our prize giveaway
    We've already heard from over 2,000 ISBA lawyer members ... have we heard from you? If you have not yet taken the 2009 ISBA Membership Survey, today is your last chance to do so! All ISBA lawyer members are invited to take the survey.  Please refer to the survey e-mail sent to you on August 26th for the link to the survey.  (If you have questions about the survey, or need assistance accessing the survey, please contact Ann Boucher, Membership Coordinator, at 800.252.8908.) We want to know what you think about the various programs and benefits the ISBA offers its members and how we could be serving you better.  Your responses will help guide the ISBA's future direction and services.  This is your chance to be heard and we are listening! After you have completed the survey, we will enter your name in a drawing for one of the following prizes if you choose to provide your contact information* at the end of the survey:
    • Four (4) members will win an iPod Nano loaded with up to six (6) MCLE/PMCLE hours of FastCLE programs of their choosing. (Valued at up to $330)
    • One (1) member will win the grand prize, including one (1) free year of membership in the ISBA plus an iPod Nano loaded with up to six (6) MCLE/PMCLE hours of FastCLE programs of their choosing. (Valued at up to $650, depending on membership category)
    To take the survey, please open up the follow-up e-mail sent to you on August 26th and click on the link provided within the e-mail.
  • August 28, 2009 | ISBA News
    "Surviving the Mortgage Crisis" and "How to Choose the Right Lawyer" to air in September
    [caption id="attachment_3686" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Nancy Z. Hablutzel (from left), Lawrence O. Wagner and Ophelia Navarro will appear on "Surviving the Mortgage Crisis.""][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association's Illinois Law cable program will air two shows "Surviving the Mortgage Crisis" and "How to Choose the Right Lawyer for You" during the month of September on CAN-TV Cable Channel 21. [caption id="attachment_3687" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Nancy Z. Hablutzel (front, from left), Bonita B. Hwang Cho and (rear, from left) Jesus Perez and M. Yaser Tabbara will appear on "How to Choose the Right Lawyer for You.""][/caption] "Surviving the Mortgage Crisis" will air on Sept. 1, 15 and 29 at 10 p.m. This program will be moderated by Chicago lawyer Nancy Hablutzel with commentary by Lawrence O. Wagner of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago and Ophelia Navarro, Executive Director of the Spanish Coalition for Housing. "How to Choose the Right Lawyer for You" will air on Sept. 8 and 22 at 10 p.m.
  • August 27, 2009 | Events
    Justinian Society of Lawyers to hold Installation and Awards Dinner
    The Justinian Society of Lawyers will hold its 2009 Installation and Awards Dinner on Sept. 23 at the Palmer House Hilton. Hon. Richard F. Pellegrino will receive the Award of Excellence and Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias will receive the Honorable Anthony Scariano Humanitarian Award. Visit the Society's Web site for more information.
  • August 25, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Tuesday, August 25

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Southern Illinois

    Note: Breaking legal news will return on Tuesday, Sept. 8.