The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Central Illinois

  • June 26, 2009 | Events | ISBA News
    ISBA honors distinguished members at Annual Meeting
    [caption id="attachment_1360" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Former Gov. Jim Thompson, outgoing ISBA President Jack Carey, ISBA Young Lawyer of the Year Award winner Sean Wieber and President-elect John O'Brien"][/caption] Outgoing ISBA President Jack Carey presided over the annual awards presentation Friday at The Abbey in Lake Geneva. President-elect John O'Brien presented the awards. Former Gov. Jim Thompson was on hand after nominating Winston & Strawn colleague  Sean Wieber, winner of the ISBA's Young Lawyer of the Year Award. Click here to view our photo gallery from the Awards Luncheon. The award recipients were: Board of Governors Award
    • Karen M. Enright
    • Robert H. Hanaford
    • Michele M. Jochner
    Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award
    • Michael T.
  • June 26, 2009 | ISBA News
    Annual Meeting underway in Lake Geneva
    [caption id="attachment_1316" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Annual Meeting Opening Reception"][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association's Annual Meeting kicked off Thursday night in Lake Geneva with an Opening Reception and Workshop on "Becoming a Law Professor". Click here to view our photo gallery from the Opening Reception. SIU Law School Dean Peter Alexander and Professor Alice Noble-Allgire walked ISBA members down the path of becoming a law professor. Alexander and Noble-Allgire discussed two key ways to do this. 1. Submit your resume to the AALS to reach hundreds of law schools. Click here to visit the AALS website. 2. Apply directly to the law school.
  • June 26, 2009
    The law offices of ... Elmore & Reid

    [caption id="attachment_1113" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Elmore & Reid offices at 808 S. 2nd Street, Springfield."][/caption] The 2000 renovation of Springfield's Frederick R.

  • June 25, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Thursday, June 25

    State

    Judge sets Blagojevich trial date for June 3, 2010, Sun-Times

    SCOTUS

    Teen strip-searched in school wins partial victory, CNN This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.
  • June 25, 2009 | Events | ISBA News
    SIU Law workshop "Becoming a Law Professor" to help kickoff ISBA Annual Meeting
    The "Becoming a Law Professor" program will address reasons to become a law professor and explain the hiring process. Southern Illinois University School of Law presents this program to encourage diversity among law professors. There will be handouts and time for one on one questions, as well as a group presentation. The workshop will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at the Illinois State Bar Association's Annual Meeting in Lake Geneva, Wis. For more information on the ISBA's Annual Meeting, click here. Visit Illinois Lawyer Now ofter for frequent updates from the Annual Meeting.
  • June 24, 2009 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court names Reardon as Executive Director of Commission on Professionalism
    [caption id="attachment_1232" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Jayne Reardon"][/caption] The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that Jayne Reardon has been appointed as executive director of the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, a body established to improve civility between and among lawyers, their clients and judges in Illinois. Ms. Reardon, a University of Michigan Law School graduate who is an experienced Illinois lawyer and licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, has served as deputy director of the commission since 2006. During that time, she has been a key formulator of policy approved by the Commission and a facilitator of quality continuing legal education in the area of professional responsibility. Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas initiated the concept of the Commission to improve professionalism among lawyers and judges, and the full Supreme Court established the Commission in 2005. The Commission has achieved its goals with limited staff and budget. No taxpayers dollars are involved as the Commission is funded by a small portion of the annual registration and licensing fees paid by Illinois attorneys.
  • June 24, 2009 | Events
    Women's Bar Association to hold 14th annual golf outing
    The Women's Bar Association of Illinois will hold its 14th annual "No Threat, No Sweat" golf outing on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale. This is a shotgun scramble event so players of all skill levels are welcome. Cost is $150 for members, their guests and judges, $175 for non-members. This fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, beverages, BBQ lunch and a dinner reception. Click here to register.
  • June 24, 2009 | People
    Flowers installed as president of Illinois Trial Lawyers
    [caption id="attachment_1202" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Peter Flowers"][/caption] Peter Flowers of the Geneva firm Foote, Meyers, Mielke & Flowers was installed as the 56th President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association in early June at its annual convention. Flowers, 41, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989 from Loyola University and his Juris Doctor in 1992 from DePaul University. Currently, Flowers concentrates his practice in the areas of medical malpractice, wrongful death litigation, workers' compensation, personal injury and product liability litigation. He has a special interest in the representation of children who have been injured by the neglectful conduct of medical professionals. Flowers is a member of the American Association for Justice, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association (a member of the ISBA Assembly), DuPage County Bar Association and Kane County Bar Association.
  • June 23, 2009 | Practice News
    The lawyer as juror
    Central Illinois blawgger Jeremy J. Richey conducted a revealing interview with Brian Pedigo, a California lawyer who found himself on a jury and thus saw the sausage being made (indeed, helped make the sausage). Here's a representative quote: "Jurors have their minds made up before they enter the deliberation room, even though they’re not supposed to.  It takes a very persuasive juror to change the mind of another. Also, jurors use common sense almost to a fault.  Sometimes their common-sense opinions are not relevant or related to the actual law." Read the whole interview here. Richey hosts The East Central Illinois Criminal Law & DUI Weblog.
  • June 23, 2009 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Win up to $2,000 in the ISBA Young Lawyers Division Lincoln Writing Contest
    We invite you to share your hard-won knowledge and maybe win $2,000 in prize money by entering the 51st Annual Lincoln Award Legal Writing Contest. We're looking for useful, practical articles on topics important to practicing lawyers. The highest scores will go to manuscripts that Illinois lawyers can use in their practices, written in a no-nonsense, plain-English style. If you're an ISBA lawyer member under age 36 as of July 1, 2009, or admitted to the bar fewer than five years as of that date, you're eligible to compete for a share of the $3,500 in Lincoln Award prize money and a handsome plaque for your office. And even if you don't win, yours may be among the many Lincoln Award entries to appear in the Illinois Bar Journal. Click here for more details. Click here for contest rules and application. And don't delay -- the deadline for filing a notice to enter the contest is July 15!