Chicago Area

April 22, 2010

Breaking legal news for Thursday, April 22
State
- Blago defense seeks permission to subpoena Obama, Chicago Tribune
- Judge: Blagojevich brothers to be tried together, Springfield State Journal-Register
Central Illinois
- Champaign County judge to hear Beaman's certificate of innocence petition, Bloomington Pantagraph
Chicago area
- Chicago landlord to Milton Bradley: Pay up, Chicago Tribune
- Navy SEAL from Blue Island cleared in Iraqi abuse case, Chicago Sun-Times
- Prosecutors: Woman was killed to prevent her testimony, Chicago Tribune
- Meet Judge Diane Wood, a "philosophical outlier" on the 7th Circuit, ABA Journal
- Mental fitness of accused Darien slaying suspect to be evaluated, Daily Herald
April 22, 2010 | Practice News

Edmond E. Chang nominated to be 1st Asian-American Article III Federal Judge in the 7th Circuit

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmond E. Chang has been nominated to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Mr. Chang is the first Asian Pacific American to be nominated to sit as an Article III judge within the 7th Circuit. Edmond E. Chang is an Assistant United States Attorney with the Northern District of Illinois, where he has served since 1999. He is presently the Chief of Appeals of the Criminal Division, where he has supervised over 300 appeals in the Seventh Circuit. He has also served in various other positions within the U.S. Attorney's office, including Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section. Mr. Chang is a 1994 graduate cum laude of Northwestern University School of Law and a 1990 graduate cum laude of the University of Michigan, where he received a degree in Aerospace Engineering.
April 21, 2010 | People

Edlund named equity partner at Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson

[caption id="attachment_10610" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Mitchell Edlund"][/caption] The Chicago-based law firm of Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson (MBT) has named Mitchell Edlund as a new equity partner. Edlund focuses his practice in business and commercial litigation matters Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson, based in Chicago, is one of the city’s top law firms with 90 attorneys practicing in Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix. The firm specializes in insurance, labor and employment law, commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense and attorney fee disputes.
April 21, 2010 | Events

IBF recognizes Lincoln Legacy Society charter members
[caption id="attachment_10596" align="alignright" width="300" caption="IBF Treasurer and Lincoln Legacy Society charter member James Lestikow with IBF President Vince Cornelius "][/caption] The Illinois Bar Foundation welcomed its charter members into the Lincoln Legacy Society during a ceremony at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on Thursday, April 15. The Lincoln Legacy Society was created exclusively to honor and recognize individuals who have agreed to support the Foundation's vision to be the statewide leader in advancing justice in Illinois by providing for the Foundation in his or her estate plan. Abraham Lincoln, the state's most famous lawyer, left an indelible mark on the Illinois legal system. Lincoln Legacy Society members will leave their mark on the legal system through their legacy gifts to the Illinois Bar Foundation. Click here to view a photo gallery from this event Lincoln Legacy Society charter members (Charter membership continues through Dec. 31, 2010):
- Perry and Michelle Browder, East Alton
- Vincent & Zina Cornelius, Naperville
- Carl R. Draper, Springfield
- Gregg A. Garofalo, Chicago
- Mark D. Hassakis, Mt. Vernon
- R. Michael Henderson, Peoria
- Thomas and Eileen Killarney
- John B.
April 21, 2010

Breaking legal news for Wednesday, April 21
Chicago area
- Chicago Judge Ann Claire Williams on Supreme Court list, Chicago Tribune
- Judge to Blagojevich: No, all tapes won't be played in court, Chicago Sun-Times
- Defiant Blagojevich arrives at federal court for hearing, Chicago Tribune
- Priest indicted on additional assault charges, Daily Herald
- Foreclosure suit hits trio of Lake View hotels, Chicago Business
- Court martial begins today for Navy SEAL from Blue Island, Chicago Tribune
- Cops: Man wrongly jailed threatened police, Daily Herald
SCOTUS
April 20, 2010 | People

Hebeisen and Durkin inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Keith A. Hebeisen and Kevin P. Durkin, partners at Clifford Law Offices, have been inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Active Academy members are limited to 500 in the U.S. A comprehensive screening process identifies the most distinguished members of the trial bar by means of both peer and judicial review. Hebeisen and Durkin, partners at Clifford Law Offices for more than 25 years, have made a mark in the courtroom through their trial work over the years. Hebeisen has achieved many multi-million verdicts and settlements, particularly in the area of medical malpractice. Durkin also has received numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, mainly in the area of aviation and transportation litigation.
April 20, 2010 | People

ISBA member Paprocki named bishop of Springfield Diocese

ISBA member and Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki has been named bishop of Springfield's Catholic Diocese. Paprocki earned a bachelor's degree from Niles College of Loyola University and a law degree from DePaul University College of Law. He attended St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein and was ordained as a priest in 1978. Read more in the Springfield State Journal-Register
April 20, 2010

Breaking legal news for Tuesday, April 20
SCOTUS
- Justices void law banning videos of animal cruelty, New York Times
State
- Lawsuits over Illinois budget mess could be coming, Quad-City Times
Central Illinois
- Paprocki named Springfield bishop, Springfield State Journal-Register
- Suit against deceased B-N priest moves forward, Bloomington Pantagraph
Chicago area
- 3 plead not guilty to armored car robbery plot, Chicago Tribune
Northern Illinois
- Man charged after bringing drugs into police department, DeKalb Daily Chronicle
Southern Illinois
- Former Illinois State Police director calls Mitchell's actions "irresponsible", Belleville News-Democrat
Nation
- http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/small_foreclosure_firm_makes_big_...
April 19, 2010 | People

Hon. Michael A. Orenic passes away

Hon. Michael A. Orenic, 85, passed away at his Joliet home last Friday. Orenic was an ISBA Laureate Award Winner in 2006. The Laureate Award, the supreme honor bestowed by the Academy of Illinois Lawyers, is awarded to those deemed to exemplify the highest ideals of the profession. A graduate of the DePaul University College of Law, he was an Army Air Corps officer during World War II. Elected to the bench in 1964, Orenic was presiding judge in Will County for 16 years while the circuit included Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. He served as chief judge from 1977 to 1982 and from 1986 to 1988, and he retired in 1990 to spend more time with his nine children and ailing wife, who died in 1996. Even before he retired in 1990, Orenic was "legendary" in the Will County courts, said Joliet attorney George Mahoney III, who had nominated Orenic for the laureate honors. "He was a fascinating guy -- a brilliant guy," Mahoney said. "He was a big guy with flowing white hair. He had this physical aura about him. He looked like a judge." The 2006 Laureate Award Winners Obituary: Will County loses a "brilliant" judge
April 19, 2010 | ISBA News

Judge Spears, IJA presented with ISBA Lincoln street banners

[caption id="attachment_10461" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA Committee on Strategic Marketing Chair John Bailen, IJA President Ron Spears, IJA 1st VP Lewis M. Nixon, IJA Secretary M. Carol Pope, IJA 3rd VP Rita M. Novak and ISBA President John O'Brien"][/caption] ISBA President John G. O'Brien presented ISBA street banners to the Illinois Judges Association and its president, Judge Ron Spears, at the Annual Judicial Education Conference on Monday at the Swissotel Chicago. The banners were produced in commemoration of the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The banners were displayed at various locations in downtown Chicago and in Springfield during the year-long celebration. Also on hand for the presentation were IJA 1st VP Lewis M. Nixon, IJA Secretary M. Carol Pope, IJA 3rd VP Rita M. Novak and John Bailen, chair, ISBA Committee on Strategic Marketing.