Chicago Area

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select ISBA Assembly member Thomas A. Else and Anthony V. Coco as associate judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Mr. Else received his undergraduate degree in 1979 from Elmhurst College, and his Juris Doctor in 1982 from DePaul University. Mr. Else is currently engaged in solo practice in Wheaton. Mr. Coco received his undergraduate degree in 1990 from Indiana University and his Juris Doctor in 1993 from Chicago Kent. Mr. Coco is currently affiliated with the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office in Wheaton.

William Evertson Phillips, 82, of Oak Brook, formerly of Deerfield, died Nov. 14, 2010 at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. Mr. Phillips was born May 3, 1928, in Galesburg to Frederick Wisner and Ruth nee Johnson Phillips. He is a descendant of the Reverend George Phillips who came to this country in 1630 with the Puritans, and Major Moses Phillips who fought in the Revolutionary War. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Salvesen Phillips; and three daughters, Carrie (Anthony) Quinn, Anne (David) Gezon and Elizabeth (Bernard) Schaffer; he is also survived by two stepdaughters, Melissa (Kip) Carlson and Melanie Salvesen; he was the proud grandfather of Kathleen (Mark Reed) Quinn Reed, Michael (Jennifer) Quinn, John Quinn, William Schaffer, Richard Schaffer, Sarah Schaffer, Christopher Gezon and Caroline Gezon; and great- grandfather of Samantha Quinn Reed. Mr. Phillips was preceded in death by first his wife of 47 years, Frances Holcomb Phillips. He attended High School at Western Military Academy, in Alton, where he graduated with honors. He continued his education at Knox College, in Galesburg, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at Knox, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and Scabbard and Blade Honorary Military Fraternity. He received four varsity letters in swimming, and was Captain of the Knox Swim Team his junior and senior year. He received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1953, where he received the prestigious U.S. Law Book Award. Upon graduating he worked for several firms before founding his own law firm, which eventually became Phillips, Healy and Allen. He practiced at 134 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago, for 35 years until he retired as President of the firm.

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that James K. Simonian received most of the votes cast by the circuit judges in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit and is declared to be appointed to the office of associate judge. Mr. Simonian received his undergraduate degree in 1986 from DePauw University and his Juris Doctor in 1989 from Indiana University. Mr. Simonian is currently affiliated with the Law Office of Stephen Simonian in Waukegan.

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Laura Cha-yu Liu as Circuit Judge of Cook County, Eighth Subcircuit, Judgeship A. This appointment is effective Dec. 17, 2010, and terminates on Dec. 3, 2012.