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  • January 21, 2014 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court scheduled to release six opinions Friday morning

    The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to release opinions in the following six cases on Friday, Jan. 24. Quick Takes on each case will be published in Monday's E-Clips due to ISBA network downtime.

    • No. 115308 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. David K. Elliott, appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, Fifth District.
    • No. 115310 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Billy McChriston, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, Fourth District.
    • No. 115330 - Gillespie Community Unit School District No. 7, etc., appellant, v. Wight & Company, etc., appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, Fourth District.
    • No. 115424 - In re S.L., a Minor (People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Julia F., appellee). Appeal, Appellate Court, Fifth District.
    • No. 115459 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Christopher B. Bailey, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, Second District.
    • No. 115638 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Peter Hommerson, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, Second District.
  • January 16, 2014 | Practice News
    Cook County Judge Laura Liu appointed to 1st District Appellate vacancy

    The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Cook County Circuit Judge Laura Liu to the 1st District Appellate vacancy created by the death of Justice Patrick Quinn.

    According to the Chicago Sun-Times, sitting Appellate Justice Bertina Lampkin will move into Quinn's vacancy and Liu will move into Lampkin's spot.

    The appointment is effective Feb. 3.

  • 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 15, 2014 | ISBA News | Practice News
    Updated Disaster Legal Services Manual now available

    The Illinois State Bar Association's Delivery of Legal Services’ Committee has updated its Disaster Legal Services Manual and the newest version is now available at www.illinoislawyerfinder.com/disastermanual

  • January 15, 2014 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Essential skill sets for law firm administrators

    Asked and Answered

    By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

    Q. Our firm is an eight attorney firm located in Minneapolis. We have 5 partners and three associates. I serve as the managing partner and frankly I do not have the time or the skills to do an effective job. My performance as managing partner is marginal at best. We have recently been discussing hiring a professional legal administrator to manage the firm. What are the essential skill sets we should look for?

  • January 15, 2014 | Practice News
    Mitchell L. Hoffman appointed Circuit Judge of the 19th Circuit, 4th Subcircuit

    The Illinios Supreme Court has appointed the Hon. Mitchell L. Hoffman to Circuit Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit, Fourth Subcircuit. This appointment is effective Feb. 3, 2014 and terminates on Dec. 5, 2016. Judge Mitchell currently serves as an associate judge in the 19th Circuit.

  • January 13, 2014 | Practice News
    James P. Flannery, Jr. appointed presiding judge of Cook County Law Division

    Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced Monday the appointment of Judge James P. Flannery, Jr. as Presiding Judge of the Law Division effective immediately. Judge Flannery, currently a trial judge in the Law Division, fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Law Division Presiding Judge William D. Maddux who retired Jan. 11, 2014.

    1 comment (Most recent January 14, 2014)
  • 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
  • January 8, 2014 | Practice News
    Best Practice: How to improve law firm advertising

    Asked and Answered

    By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

    Q. I am the owner of a 5 attorney estate planning/elder law firm in Boston. Our business volume has been stagnant for the past several years and down substantially this past year. We try to do all the marketing that we can. I do at least one seminar a month, we are in key directories, have a good website, send out paper and print newsletters, etc. In the past we have experimented with TV and radio advertising where we used professional narrators/actors. The results were dismal at best. Frankly, I feel we need to spend more on advertising but we are undercapitalized and funds are tight. I would appreciate your thoughts.

  • January 6, 2014 | Practice News
    Wexstten retirement creates appellate vacancy in 5th District

    Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier announced Monday that an application process has begun to fill a vacancy in the Fifth District Appellate Court.

    The vacancy is being created by the announced resignation of Appellate Justice James M. Wexstten, effective January 29, 2014.

    Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill interim judicial vacancies. Justice Karmeier will use a special committee to evaluate and interview the applicants before making a recommendation to the Court to fill the vacancy.

    An Applicant Information Form may be obtained from Justice Karmeier at P.O. Box 266, Nashville, IL 62263. The Information Form may also be obtained from any of the Chief Judges in the Fifth Judicial District. The Chief Judges are: Judge Mark Clarke, First Judicial Circuit, Marion; Judge Thomas Tedeschi, Second Judicial Circuit, Benton; Judge David Hylla, Third Judicial Circuit, Edwardsville; Judge Gene Schwarm, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Vandalia; and Judge John Baricevic, 20th Judicial Circuit, Belleville.

    Applications must be received in Justice Karmeier's office no later than Friday, January 31, 2014. The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until the position is filled through the November 2016 General Election. The appointment will terminate December 5, 2016. To be eligible for appointment, a person must be a citizen of the United States, a licensed Illinois attorney in good standing, and a resident of the Fifth Judicial District at the time of the appointment.