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Central Illinois

  • June 6, 2019 | People
    Hon. James T. Londrigan 1925-2019

    Hon. James T. Londrigan, of Springfield, died May 31, 2019, at his home.

    He was born Feb. 23, 1925, in Springfield, the son of James E. and Sophia (Albright) Londrigan. He married Marilyn J. Brust in 1950 and they had five children. He married Mary Lane in May 2016.

    Through most of his adult life he was a member of the law firm of Londrigan & Londrigan, practicing with six other Londrigans, including his father, James, and son, Timothy. At the time of his death he was of counsel with the law firm of Wolter, Beeman, Lynch and Londrigan.

  • May 15, 2019 | People
    Dennis Sheehan 1944-2019

    Dennis Michael Sheehan, 75, of Pekin, died Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at Amy’s Country Manor in Pekin.

    Born March 24, 1944 in Chicago to Matthew Francis and Nora A. (O’Grady) Sheehan, he married Lisa G. Adkins on July 13, 1985 in Pekin. She survives.

    Also surviving are five children, Ellie (Andrew) Volz, Donnie (Jennifer) Schlottman, Matthew Sheehan, all of Pekin, Michael Sheehan of Grays Lake and Mollie Sheehan of Denver, Colorado; six grandchildren, Wesley, Lainey, Hunter, Miley, Daniel and Zoey; one brother, Terry (Gail) Sheehan of Lisle; his mother-in-law, Nadine Adkins of Pekin and three brothers-in-law, Michael (Mary Ann) Adkins of New Albany, Ohio, Tim (Denise) Adkins of Tremont and John (Ronda) Adkins of Pekin.  Dennis loved dogs and also leaves behind his beloved Joe.

  • May 15, 2019 | People
    Ralph Turner 1946-2019

    The youngest child of James B. and Katherine Eleanor (Witham) Turner, Ralph was born May 27, 1946, in Lincoln.

    He is survived by three daughters, Christine (Eduardo Moreno), San Mateo, California; Ashley, Los Angeles, California; and Andrea (Steven Moffitt), New York, New York; two grandchildren, Hayden and Grayson Moffitt, with a third due in late May, and two stepgrandchildren, Eddie and Josue Moreno, Annapolis, Maryland. Others surviving are four sisters, Susan (Kenneth) Walden, McLean; Nancy (Roger, deceased) Miller, Polo; Ann Turner, Pekin; and Alice (Richard) Girdler, Shelby Township, Michigan; close friend, Martha Mitchell; his former wife, Karyn Pitts Turner; and many nieces and nephews and their children, all of whom he was immensely proud. He appreciated the great love of his family.

  • May 9, 2019 | Practice News
    May 2019 Bar Admission Ceremony Highlights

    Illinois Supreme Court justices welcomed 335 new attorneys to the legal profession on May 9 during admissions ceremonies held at four different locations across the state. 

    ISBA staff members were in attendance at all five ceremonies to welcome the state's newest attorneys to the profession, take photos, and talk about the benefits of ISBA membership, which is free for one year for new admittees. Member benefits can be activated by filling out the New Admittee Membership Form. 

    All of those who were sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,300.

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    May 9, 2019 | ISBA News
    4th District Admission Ceremony, May 2019

    New attorneys were admitted to practice in Illinois on May 9 at four separate locations across the state. The Fourth Judicial District ceremony was held in the Courtroom of the Illinois Supreme Court Building, 200 E. Capitol Ave., in Springfield.  

  • May 7, 2019 | ISBA News
    Temporary ISBA Service Interruption Scheduled on May 7

    All ISBA systems will be down due to a network upgrade beginning Tuesday, May 7 at 5:00 p.m. The interruption is expected to be short (20 minutes), but could last up to two hours. During this time the ISBA website will not be available. As a result you will also not be able to log into Fastcase, online CLE, and ISBA Central. Here is what you need to know and steps you can take to ensure continued service.

  • May 6, 2019 | Practice News
    Over 300 New Illinois Lawyers to Be Admitted on Thursday

    New attorneys will be admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, May 9, with Illinois Supreme Court justices presiding and administering the attorney's oath to 335 new attorneys across the state. 

    All of the candidates set to be sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They will bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,300.

    The largest group, 245, will be admitted in the First Judicial District during three ceremonies at the James R. Thompson Center Assembly Hall, located at 100 W. Randolph St., in Chicago. The ceremonies will be at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2 p.m. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke will preside over the 9 a.m. ceremony, Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. will preside over the 11:30 a.m. ceremony, and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis will preside over the 2 p.m. ceremony.  

  • May 6, 2019 | People
    Califf & Harper, P.C. Welcomes John D. Simmons as an Attorney of Counsel

    John D. Simmons joined Califf & Harper, P.C. as a new associate of counsel in 2019.  

    Simmons, born in Cedar Rapids and raised in northern Illinois, graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2003, and went on to receive his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2006.  

  • May 2, 2019 | Practice News
    Public Interest Law Initiative Seeks Managing Attorney

    PILI seeks a managing attorney, who will serve as a member of PILI’s Programs Team, with primary responsibility for overseeing PILI’s statewide efforts to expand and enhance pro bono outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. This is a dynamic position that requires both the ability to organize and manage at a high level, while also being actively engaged in administration and implementation. The ability to do regular and significant statewide travel, and limited national travel, is required.  

  • April 25, 2019 | People
    Philip Baker Benefiel 1923-2019

    Philip Baker Benefiel, 95, died Sunday, April 7, 2019, at home in Champaign.

    Judge Benefiel was born June 25, 1923, in Lawrenceville, to Ross J. and Amanda Jane (nee Baker) Benefiel. He attended Lawrenceville public schools and the University of Illinois. During World War II, Philip served in the 667th Field Artillery Battalion at the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine Crossing at Remagen. Upon his return to the University of Illinois after the war, Philip completed a bachelor’s degree in history, followed by a J.D. in law in 1948. Returning home to Lawrenceville, Philip was elected as state’s attorney of Lawrence County and served in that position from 1948-1952. At the time, Philip was the youngest Democrat in the U.S. to serve as state’s attorney, a post contested and won in an Illinois Supreme Court case due to his having been elected prior to successful completion of the bar exam.