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John O'Brien

  • October 7, 2009 | ISBA News
    5 Illinois newspapers receive ISBA's Lincoln Media Awards
    [caption id="attachment_4684" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien is asked about mortgage foreclosure issues and lawyers' public service activities before he presented the Lincoln Media Awards on Oct. 9 in Peoria."][/caption] The Peoria Journal Star, the Kane County Chronicle and three other newspapers received the 2nd annual Abraham Lincoln Media Award from the Illinois State Bar Association at a ceremony at the Pere Marquette Hotel in Peoria, on Friday, October 9. The Champaign News-Gazette, the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake and the Aurora Beacon-News also received the award. The ISBA presentation took place during the Illinois Press Association's annual Illinois Excellence in News & Editorial Contest awards luncheon. ISBA President John G. O'Brien presented the award to the Journal Star for its front page series, "Legal actions against enemy combatant," written by Andy Kravetz. "The ISBA media award recognizes media outlets and/or individual members of the media who have been exemplary in helping foster the public's understanding of the law and the legal system," said O'Brien.  "The Journal Star series clearly deserves this recognition."
  • August 27, 2009 | ISBA News
    John O’Brien interview on Illinois Radio Network
    [caption id="attachment_3803" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Jim Anderson (left) and John O'Brien (right)"][/caption] John O’Brien was interviewed by Illinois Radio Network newsman Jim Anderson today for a half-hour show, “Eye on Illinois,” that will air at various times the weekend of Aug. 28 on IRN’s subscriber stations statewide. John fielded questions about real estate law as well as the work undertaken by lawyers.
  • August 20, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA President John O'Brien to appear on WMAY
    [caption id="attachment_3618" align="alignright" width="150" caption="John O'Brien"][/caption] ISBA President John O'Brien will appear on radio station WMAY 970-AM out of Springfield this Saturday, August 22, at approximately 12:30 p.m. to discuss pro bono work that lawyers perform. The segment can be heard through the station's Web site at www.wmay.com and click on the "Listen Live" button.
  • July 30, 2009 | ISBA News
    President John O'Brien receives Death Penalty Award on behalf of ISBA
    [caption id="attachment_2841" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ICADP Board President Garnet Fay, former ISBA president Terry Hegarty, ISBA President John O'Brien and ICADP Executive Director Jeremy Schroeder"][/caption] The Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty selected the Illinois State Bar Association to receive its organizational award for 2009 for its work to abolish the death penalty in Illinois. ISBA President John O'Brien accepted the award at the group's annual meeting Thursday night in Chicago. Former ISBA president Terry Hegarty, who led the effort to get the  Association to take its position against the death penalty, was also on hand for the award presentation.
  • July 8, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA president John O'Brien featured in Daily Herald
    President O'Brien discusses diversity and the need for Illinois to do a better job of providing legal help for low-income families. The new president of the Illinois State Bar Association describes himself as "the suburban white Irish guy," but John O'Brien thinks the profession and the association need more diversity. Click here for the full story
  • June 26, 2009 | ISBA News
    John O'Brien sworn-in as 133rd President of the Illinois State Bar Association
    [caption id="attachment_1410" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien is sworn in by Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald as his wife Karen looks on."][/caption] John O'Brien was sworn in as the new Illinois State Bar Association President on Friday before a sold-out crowd at the Annual Meeting in Lake Geneva. "I am humbled and honored to serve as the 133rd President of the ISBA," O'Brien said. "I am especially honored by the presence of so many past Presidents and I realize I would not be here without their encouragement. Their presence also reminds me that we  -- all of us -- owe a debt to the past and have a duty to the future of the ISBA." O'Brien, of Arlington Heights, is the founding president of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association. He has been a champion of taking on the unauthorized practice of law by real estate companies and title insurance firms.  He was  elected to the ISBA Assembly in 1997. "We are called to service and tonight we rededicate ourselves to the ongoing struggle to attain access to a free and independent judicial system fueled by the hard work of lawyers and judges alike," O'Brien said. In 2002, he received the most votes for a seat on the Board of Governors.
  • June 16, 2009 | People
    ISBA President-elect John O'Brien presents Law Enforcement Award to Russell Laine
    [caption id="attachment_887" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President-elect John G. O'Brien, Algonquin Police Chief Russell Laine, McHenry County State's Attorney Louis A. Bianchi"][/caption] ISBA President-elect John G. O'Brien recently presented the ISBA's 2009 Law Enforcement Award to Russell B. Laine, police chief of the Village of Algonquin. Laine was nominated by McHenry County State's Attorney Louis A. Bianchi. The 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. The award is given sparingly to those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement.