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Illinois State Bar Association President John G. Locallo (left) presents Mark Pleasant, a special investigator with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office in Waukegan, with the ISBA’s annual Law Enforcement Award. This award was presented at a luncheon of the Lake County Bar Association on April 24 at the Green Belt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
Richard J. "Dick" Smith, 72, of Wadsworth, IL, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at Sunrise Assisted Living in Gurnee, IL.
Dick was born July 10, 1939 in Freeport, IL, and graduated from Freeport High School in 1957. He went on to earn an Undergraduate Degree from Augustana College, a Masters Degree from Purdue University and a Law Degree from the University of Michigan. Dick married Nancy Coomber on May 21, 1966, in Freeport. In 1966 he moved to Waukegan to practice law and eventually retired from the firm of Sullivan, Smith, Hauser, and Noonan. He was a long-time active member of Immanuel Church in Gurnee.
Dick was an avid fisherman, reader, and Chicago sports fan. He loved to sing, study history, and teach about the Bible, which he did for many years as a Sunday school teacher and small group leader at Immanuel. He was passionate about justice, and saw the law as a means to protect those who couldn't stand up for themselves. Most of all, he was a faithful husband, father, and friend, who loved God and served others generously.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Nancy; son Erik (Christi) Smith of Carmel, IN; daughter, Melissa (Joseph) Smith of Kenosha, WI; grandchildren, Kaelyn, Malachi, Simon, Ferris, and Caide; and sister, Dorothy (Richard) Pyle of San Diego, CA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Dorothy Smith.
A Memorial Service was held on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion. Memorial donations are suggested to Immanuel Church or the Alzheimers Association.
Andrew "Andy" Dystrup passed away on April 3 due to complications following a lung transplant on March 1st, related to pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Joliet on June 27, 1945.
Andy was a graduate of Lockport schools and the University of Illinois, receiving a BS in chemical engineering and a JD degree. He practiced law in Joliet for 41 years and was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. Andy was a proud board member of the Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund, ATG Trust Company, Lincolnway Community Bank, and The Will County Community Foundation. He was a longtime member of Grace United Methodist Church and the Chancel Choice and the Joliet Breakfast Lions Club.
Andy was extremely proud of his daughters and delighted in being Papa to Marlowe, Colin, Garrett and Lauren. Andy and his wife Carolyn treasured traveling around the world together, noting their hiking trips in the national parks as their favorites.
James Reichardt will receive Chicago-Kent College of Law's 2012 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award at the 2012 Public Interest Awards Night.
Jim operates a solo practice in Villa Park, concentrating in civil matters such as real estate, probate and estate planning and trust administration for individuals and families. He has dedicated countless hours during his legal tenure to numerous bar associations and their activities as well as DuPage County legal organizations.
The Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award was created to recognize a Chicago-Kent alumnus/a who has demonstrated a strong commitment to pro bono throughout his or her career.
For more information on the Public Interest Awards and a complete listing of award recipients, visit www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/publicinterest.
The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Bernard M. Judge of Chicago to serve as a Commissioner of the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). The ARDC is the Supreme Court agency that has administrative authority over more than 90,000 Illinois lawyers and investigates allegations of attorney misconduct. The order of appointment, dated April 12, 2012, is effective immediately.
Mr. Judge is a nationally respected newspaper executive who has served in management positions at the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times andthe Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. He began his career as a reporter for the City New Bureau of Chicago in 1965. Soon thereafter, he joined the Tribuneand covered state and federal courts and wrote about state government and politics. He became the Tribune’sCity Editor in 1974 and Assistant Managing Editor in 1979. Two investigative reporting projects he directed as City Editor won the Pulitzer Prize. Mr. Judge served as Editor and General Manager of the City News Bureau in 1983-1984, before he joined the Sun-Times as metropolitan editor and later as associate editor. In 1988, he was hired by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company as editor and vice president of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, and became the Law Bulletin’s publisher in 2001. He also served as the editor and publisher of the Chicago Lawyer magazine. Mr. Judge retired in July 2007 and, since that time, has been a non-lawyer Hearing Board officer for the ARDC, serving as a trial judge in lawyer disciplinary cases.
The McHenry County Bar Association (MCBA) is taking the stage – and for a good cause – four causes actually. The MCBA is putting on a production of a very recent one-act play entitled “The Affray: Lincoln’s Last Murder Case.” The script was based on actual transcripts from People v. Peachy Quinn Harrison, a trial from Sangamon County in 1859, and is purported to be Abraham Lincoln’s successful defense of Mr. Harrison before he went on to the national stage. The play is the work of two Illinois Wesleyan University professors, Robert Bray and Jared Brown.
The idea for the local production came from Huntley attorney and past MCBA President Michael J. Fleck, who saw the original production last June in Bloomington at the historic Courthouse as put on by the McLean County Museum in partnership with Illinois Voices Theatre. After seeing the play, which he described as entertaining and interesting, he asked the authors if they would be interested in having the play re-produced, to which they agreed. After taking his idea to the MCBA Board of Governors, it was decided that the play could be presented in conjunction with “Law Day” festivities – a number of MCBA sponsored events celebrating the legal system that are participated in by a number of Bar Associations and coordinated overall by the American Bar Association (ABA).
ISBA member Sam Amirante will be signing copies of his book, "John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster" on May 10 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Beef and Brandy, 127 S. State in Chicago. This event is sponsored by Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity.
Sam, ex Public Defender, retired judge, husband, father, and leader of his own private law firm practice, shares “the story behind the story” at this gathering. Mark your calendars and come after work to join the world’s largest legal fraternity as Sam shares stories with fellow barristers and personalizes an inscription for your very own copy of his book.
Many of us have known Sam for years and have enjoyed his wit, perceptions, and conviviality as practicing lawyers. Now his book has achieved national acclaim and great reviews. The book chronicles the efforts by Sam to defend the same rights of every American accused of a crime. He answers the question of "How could you defend that monster?" with candor and honesty, shedding a different insightful light on a lawyer's most difficult duty. Here’s your chance to meet and enjoy the man behind the story and claim your copy of this book.
This event is free and no RSVP is required. Questions? Contact Charlie McCarthy at charlie@mccarthy.net or (630) 571-4126
George Tupper Swaim, 90, of Manteno, died peacefully at home, in the company of his loving wife, Alice, March 16, 2012. Cremation rites were accorded and memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley, the YMCA, or to St. Mark United Methodist Church in Kankakee.
George was born Jan. 5, 1922, in Gibson City. He graduated from Kankakee High School in 1939 and continued his education at the University of Illinois, where he graduated first with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1943. That same year, he joined the U.S. Navy and attended the Columbia University’s Midshipmen’s School. Upon completion, he received the commission of ensign. He proudly served his country for three years, spending 18 months overseas and was involved in the securing of the Solomon Islands and two invasions of the Philippines. While in the Navy, he was commissioned to lieutenant commander. Upon graduation from the University of Illinois in 1950 with a Master of Arts degree, he attended Tulane University Law School, graduating in 1953 with a Juris Doctor degree. While at Tulane, he was elected student body president.
Lemont attorney William J. McGann passed away on March 26. He was bron on Dec. 19, 1949.
Mr. McGann was a graduate of Brother Rice High School, University of Dayton, and DePaul Law School.
He was the son of Patrick and Mary McGann (deceased); Loving husband of Susan E. McGann (Doherty); Devoted Father to William Jr, Brian, and Kerri. Brother to Honorable Patrick McGann (Kathy), Timothy (deceased), Edward, Ginny, and Dr. John McGann (Marie). Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st, Orland Park. (708) 857-7878 or www.sheehyfh.com.
The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) will kick off a new term of office on Thursday, June 7, 2012, during its 98th Annual Installation Dinner at the Chicago Hilton Towers. The dinner serves as one of the largest annual celebrations within the Chicago legal community, with over 700 judges, attorneys, corporate supporters and prominent community leaders attending the event each year.
This year, the WBAI celebrates the installation of its incoming President, Karina Zabicki DeHayes, a partner in the Chicago law firm Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC. Incoming President Karina Zabicki DeHayes was named in the Law Bulletin’s “40 Under Forty”—Illinois Attorneys to Watch in 2008 and was named an Illinois “Rising Star” by her peers in SuperLawyers® magazine for three consecutive years beginning in 2009, a distinction reserved for the top 2.5 percent of Illinois lawyers who are under 40 or in practice for 10 years or less. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Foundation. At the Dinner, incoming President Karina Zabicki DeHayes will detail the goals for her term and unveil her mission for the upcoming year, “Women and Men Partnering for Excellence.”