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  • June 19, 2014 | Practice News
    Cook County justice system leaders to tour DC area courts

    A task force of principal stakeholders summoned by the Illinois Supreme Court will be visiting Washington D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland next week to study firsthand pretrial release and detention procedures in those courts as a way to enhance the administration of justice in Cook County and Illinois. The site visit is being coordinated with the assistance of the Washington-based Pretrial Justice Institute.

    Those scheduled to make the trip are Cook County State’s Atty. Anita Alvarez; Clerk Dorothy Brown of the Cook County Circuit Court; Cook County Public Defender A.C. Cunningham; Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans of Cook County Circuit Court; President Toni Preckwinkle of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County; Ret. Chief Justice Ben K. Miller of the Illinois Supreme Court; Ret. U.S. District Court Judge David Coar; and Director Michael Tardy of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

    Those principals, as well as Sheriff Tom Dart of Cook County, were assembled by the Supreme Court last November for a continuing discussion on the systemic management of criminal pretrial matters, focusing on strategies to improve the effective administration of justice in Cook County and throughout Illinois.

  • June 16, 2014 | Events | People
    William F. Kelley installed as president of Northwest Suburban Bar Association

    William F. Kelley was installed as the 58th President of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association on June 12, 2014 during the Association’s annual dinner meeting at Maggiano’s in Schaumburg. His brother and former partner, the Hon. Judge Thomas J. Kelley, administered the oath of office to William Kelley, the officers and Board of Governors.

    Kelley said that he was “humbled and honored to take over the helm as President and that the core focus of the Association  will continue to be fostering an atmosphere of collegiality, civility and respect among members of the bar and bench, while honing their professional skills.” He noted that “Staying on top of the law makes us more effective advocates and advisors.”

    William Kelley is the manager partner of the law firm Kelley, Kelley & Kelley. The law firm of Kelley, Kelley & Kelley is located in Schaumburg and has been serving clients in the northwest suburbs for over 50 years, having been founded by John P. Kelley who passed away in 2009. 

    John P. Kelley was honored with the NWSBA Distinguished Service Award during the annual dinner. William Kelley noted that his father’s “focus and attention to detail, insisting upon impeccable work product, tenaciously protecting his clients, and his modeling of integrity and professionalism to this date remain an incredible inspiration to me, my brothers, his associates and colleagues.”  The Honorable Martin C. Kelley, another brother and former partner of William F. Kelley, accepted the award on behalf of their father.

  • June 11, 2014 | ISBA News
    Lori Levin to receive Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award

    Lori G. Levin, a Chicago criminal defense lawyer in private practice, will receive the 2014 Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award presented by the ISBA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section Council at the organization’s 138th Annual Meeting on Friday, June 20, at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.

    For 23 years, Levin was a prosecutor in the Cook County State Attorney’s Office where she tried many felony and civil cases before juries. In 2003, she was appointed by the Governor and served six years as executive director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, an agency dedicated to improving Illinois criminal justice. She also chaired the Illinois Integrated Justice Information Implementation Board and the Task Force to Update the Model Domestic Violence Protocol.

    Within the ISBA, she has chaired two standing committees and been an officer on others. She is committed to continuing legal education for lawyers and is a sought-after educator and lecturer on topics that include criminal justice, juvenile justice, child visitation, elder rights and mental health issues. In addition, she was on the governing council of the American Jewish Congress.

    In her nomination, Melissa Olivero, member of the ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law, wrote that Levin “sets the standard in delivering high quality legal services as a solo practitioner” and that she “embodies the very qualities of Matthew Maloney himself: professionalism, excellence and service.”

     

  • June 11, 2014 | People
    Momkus McCluskey, LLC strengthens office with the hire of Environmental Law Specialist

    Leading DuPage County law firm Momkus McCluskey, LLC announced today that Daniel J. Biederman, Sr. has joined the firm in Lisle as a partner in its Environmental Law practice.

    Daniel J. Biederman, Sr. joined Momkus McCluskey, LLC to lead the firm’s Environmental Law Practice.  He will be working closely with James S. Harkness and Jennifer L. Friedland, who are attorneys in the firm’s commercial and environmental litigation practice. Mr. Biederman concentrates his practice in complex and sophisticated environmental law, covering industry sectors across the nation.  He regularly serves clients in all key areas of environmental law, which include due diligence, litigation, compliance, permitting, strategic planning, audit and civil and criminal enforcement proceedings.

    “We are delighted to have Dan join us,” said James F. McCluskey. “He will add to our strong environmental and commercial litigation team.”  “Dan’s experience is not only in litigation but in providing transactional guidance.” added Ed Momkus. “He’s a great addition to the firm’s expertise and will also work closely with the Transactional Group’s Environmental team.”

    Mr. Biederman resides in Downers Grove, and is the father of four children.  He spends much of his time in support of the Les Turner Foundation to fight Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”

  • June 10, 2014 | ISBA News | People
    Professor Mark Wojcik to receive ISBA Community Leadership Award

    Professor Mark E. Wojcik of The John Marshall Law School will receive the 2014 Community Leadership Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) at the organization’s 138th Annual Meeting on Friday, June 20, at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.

    The award recognizes individuals for their efforts to foster understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their issues of concern.

    A former member of the ISBA Board of Governors, Wojcik has been a longtime force in the fight to achieve understanding of and equity for those in the LGBT community through his participation in local, state and national organizations. He founded the first gay rights organization at The John Marshall Law School and the first gay rights committee of the Chicago Bar Association. He served on the ISBA Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation Law, he was a Commissioner of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, he chaired the Association of American Law Schools Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues, and he is a Past President of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago. He was also inducted into the City of Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.

    1 comment (Most recent June 11, 2014)
  • June 6, 2014 | ISBA News
    ISBA presents Law Enforcement Award to Campton Hills Police Chief

    Daniel N. Hoffman, chief of police of the Campton Hills Police Department, received a 2014 ISBA Law on June 5, during a luncheon of the Kane County’s Mental Health Protocol Committee at the Kane County Judicial Center. ISBA 3rd Vice President Vincent F. Cornelius was on hand to present the award.

    Chief Hoffman was nominated by Judith W. Brawka, chief judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit in Kane County.

    The ISBA’s Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system. It is given to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement. In addition to Chief Hoffman, four other law enforcement officers from judicial districts throughout Illinois will be honored.

    Chief Hoffman was recognized for an entire career devoted to community safety and service, initially as a commander in the Aurora Police Department and more recently, in Campton Hills. As a member of the Kane County Mental Health Task Force, he helped develop Crises Intervention Team protocols and training, which give first responders the tools to calm persons in a mental health crisis.

  • June 4, 2014 | People
    Ashley Haws 1987–2014

    By Dion Davi

    It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Ashley M. Haws, a beautiful and brilliant rising star in the legal community. Ashley brought a warm smile and very positive outlook to every situation. She was loved by all that met her. The law profession and the world have lost someone that was destined to do great things. Ashley was a driving force in the initial and continued growth of our law firm. She will be greatly missed by me, our staff, and everyone that she came in contact with. Our sincerest heartfelt thoughts go out to her mother Sharon, father Gary, brother Matt, family and friends.

  • June 3, 2014 | People
    Daley Mohan Groble adds Matthew Layman and Patrick Carrier as associates

    DMG is pleased to announce that Matthew Layman and Patrick Carrier have joined the firm as Associate Attorneys.    

    Matthew Layman handles commercial and tort litigation for railroad and other transportation sector clients.  Prior to joining DMG, he spent 6 years with The Moran Law Group where he focused his practice on plaintiff’s side employment litigation and criminal defense.   Matt graduated with honors from Michigan State University, received the DePaul University College of Law Dean’s Merit Scholarship, and was named an Illinois 2014 Rising Star by Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers.  The Rising Stars list recognizes up and coming attorneys who are 40 years old or younger and no more than 2.5% of Illinois attorneys are selected.

    Patrick Carrier represents railroad and industrial clients in tort, casualty litigation, FELA and personal injury defense.  Prior to joining DMG, Patrick spent four years with O’Connell, Tivin, Miller & Burns specializing in toxic tort, environmental and insurance defense litigation.  He started his career at Dunn/Gibbons, a boutique civil litigation practice and worked as a volunteer law clerk at the Kent County (Michigan) Prosecutor’s Office.  He also served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the 17th Judicial Circuit under the Hon. Patricia D. Gardner.

  • June 2, 2014 | Practice News
    Cook County Chief Judge enters order on the taking of notes in court

    Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today entered General Administrative Order No. 2014-06 which permits persons present at court proceedings conducted in courtrooms of the Circuit Court of Cook County to take written notes while court is in session.

    “I firmly believe that the integrity of our courts depends on increasing, not limiting, public access in the courtroom, whether that access is allowing the media to film proceedings or allowing people to simply write down what they see and hear,” said Chief Judge Evans. “Every time integrity is embraced, justice is enhanced.”

    The use of laptop computers and other electronic devices in the courtrooms of the Circuit Court of Cook County is prohibited and may not be used to take notes unless otherwise expressly permitted by the judge presiding.

    General Administrative Order No. 2014-06 is attached.

    1 comment (Most recent June 13, 2014)
  • May 29, 2014 | People
    Hon. David Hall 1952-2014

    Retired Lake County Circuit Court Judge David Hall, who also was a devoted supporter of the local YMCA and a member of a rock and roll band, died May 20 surrounded by his family.

    He was 61.

    The lifelong Waukegan resident, who in 2011 was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is survived by his wife, Karen, a daughter and three sons.

    “Judge David Hall was a man of superb intellect and marvelous wit who never let go of his fascination with history and love of music, particularly rock and roll,” Chief Judge John Phillips said Wednesday.

    “In the courtroom he strove to ensure that every litigant, attorney and witness left his courtroom knowing that the judge had truly listened to what they had to say and that his decision was justly based on the law and the evidence that was presented,” Phillips said.

    Hall was appointed to the bench as associate judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit in 1989.

    Following a contested primary election in 2000, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Hall as circuit judge to fill the vacancy created by the death of then Circuit Judge Jack Hoogasian. Hall was then successfully elected to two, six-year terms as a circuit judge.