Nearly 700 new attorneys admitted to practice in Illinois

Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois Appellate Court administered the attorney’s oath to 691 new attorneys at five separate locations on Thursday, May 1.

All of the candidates have passed the Illinois state bar examination, an ethics examination, and have been certified by the Committee on Character and Fitness.

The largest group, 474, were admitted in the First Judicial District during ceremonies in the James R. Thompson Center Assembly Hall in Chicago.

ISBA President Paula H. Holderman addressed the new admittees at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony with Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Freeman and Appellate Justice Joy V. Cunningham presiding.

Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the 9 a.m. ceremony and Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis presided over the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

Here are the time and locations of Thursday's other ceremonies.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman presided over the Fourth Judicial District ceremony, 10 a.m., Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 South Sixth Street, Springfield.

Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas presided over the Second Judicial District ceremony, 10 a.m., Hemmens Memorial Building in the Elgin Civic Center Plaza, 150

Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride presided over the Third Judicial District ceremony, 11 a.m., Third Judicial District Appellate Courthouse, 1004 Columbus Street, Ottawa.

Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided over the Fifth Judicial District ceremony, 2 p.m., Gateway Convention Center, Once Gateway Drive, Collinsville.

The new attorneys will bring the total number of registered and licensed attorneys in Illinois to 93,247.