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Appointments

  • March 22, 2016 | People
    Blandin reappointed to Illinois Supreme Court Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission

    The State of Illinois Supreme Court recently appointed personal injury attorney, Stephan D. Blandin, to another one year-commitment on the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) hearing board, effective March 1, 2016. Founding partner and principal at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, Mr. Blandin has served on the ARDC’s hearing board for five years. He is one of more than 75 hearing board members who will make recommendations in disciplinary matters of lawyers in Illinois throughout the next year.

    “I am honored to be a part of the ARDC for the fifth year in a row,” said Mr. Blandin. "Preserving the integrity of the legal profession and ensuring that the Illinois public can trust in our legal system is of the utmost importance.”

    All hearing board activities are guaranteed confidentiality during all grievance investigations for Blandin, while disciplinary actions are adjudicated publicly. The ARDC board members are comprised of volunteer lawyers and non-lawyers who work under the direct supervision of the Chair of the Commission, James R. Mendillo. The ARDC operates under the authority of the Supreme Court, which regulates the admission and discipline of lawyers in Illinois.

  • February 3, 2016 | People
    Ava George Stewart appointed to Board of Directors of Illinois Bar Foundation

    Ava George Stewart, principal of the Law Office of Ava George Stewart located on Chicago’s Near North Side, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), and will serve a two-year term.

    The Foundation raises funds for distribution to Illinois nonprofit organizations whose mission is to provide free legal services to those with limited means. It also provides assistance to lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity. In 2015, the Foundation took on the responsibility of a statewide expansion of the Illinois JusticeCorps to provide trained part-time student volunteers to serve as guides in courthouses. This year, the Foundation will distribute more than $850,000 in funds.

  • November 30, 2015 | People
    Ripplinger appointed to Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council

    George Ripplinger, managing partner of the law firm Ripplinger & Zimmer, LLC, of Belleville, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, has been appointed to the Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council.

    The Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council was created by the Illinois legislature by Public Act 099-0281 to enable and fund the development and support of a legal hotline and network of legal assistance to help active duty, Reserve, National Guard, retired service members, veterans and military families in need throughout the state. It is a five year pilot program funded by a temporary $2.00 add-on to civil filing fees that began collection on September 1, 2015 and will sunset at the conclusion of the pilot project on 2020.

  • August 14, 2015 | People
    Romanucci appointed to American Association for Justice leadership positions

    The American Association for Justice (AAJ) has appointed personal injury attorney, Antonio M. Romanucci, as Chair of the Police Misconduct Litigation group, effective July  12, 2015. Mr. Romanucci also serves as Chair-Elect of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group and was elected to a three year term as one of AAJ’s PAC Trustees this year. Founding partner and principal at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, Mr. Romanucci has been an active member of AAJ for nearly 20 and has served leadership positions since July 2007.  

    “I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Police Misconduct Litigation group for AAJ, as well as serve other meaningful leadership roles for the organization,” said Mr. Romanucci. “The use of unlawful, excessive force by police officers currently taking place across our country is a rampant concern. I am looking forward to collaborating with other like-minded attorneys and individuals in my new role, to tackle this issue head-on.”

    This past month in Montreal, Canada, at the AAJ annual conference, Mr. Romanucci spoke to the Police Misconduct Litigation Group and Civil Rights Section on the topic of "Overcoming Juror Bias in Police Misconduct Cases". His July 13th presentation focused on key issues involving implicit bias and methods to deselect jurors with bias in favor of police officers and trial strategies to contain jurors with bias who make it onto juries.   

  • October 7, 2014 | People
    Judge Henry Simmons appointed to NIU Board of Visitors

    Judge Henry Simmons (retired), Managing Partner at Clifford Law Offices, has been appointed to the Northern Illinois University College of Law Board of Visitors.

    The purpose of the Board is to increase awareness of the law school’s mission and programs within the Illinois legal community as well as serve in an advisory capacity to the administration and faculty in the evaluation of the law school’s educational programs.

    Among the current members of the Board of Visitors are U.S. District Court Judge James F. Holderman, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride, Cook County Circuit Court Judge William Haddad (retired) and Dr. Kenneth C. Chessick, a graduate of the school and Of Counsel at Clifford Law Offices.

    Judge Simmons graduated from Purdue University with a degree in economics and from DePaul University College of Law.