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Madison County

  • November 12, 2015 | Events
    Madison County Courthouse celebrates 100th birthday

    The 100th birthday of the Madison County Courthouse in Edwardsville featured a presentation by Third Judicial Circuit Chief Judge David Hylla of framed Declarations of Independence hand-rolled from the plates at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. The circuit judges and the Madison County Bar Association were the donors of one framed declaration for each circuit judge's courtroom and one for the lobby of the 100-year-old courthouse. Circuit Clerk Mark Von Nida spoke of the history and mysteries from the courthouse following the dinner held on the first floor atrium of the courthouse sponsored by the Madison County Historical Society.

    Pictured at the 'Dining in History' event held in the Madison County Courthouse on Nov. 8 are (from left) Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier, Von Nida and Hylla.

  • September 9, 2015 | Practice News
    3 new associate judges appointed in 3rd Circuit

    Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Sept. 4 that the Third Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Donald M. Flack, Maureen D. Schuette and Luther W. Simmons as associate judges of the Third Judicial Circuit.

  • March 18, 2015 | People
    Mandi Ferguson joins Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP’s Madison County Office

    Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP welcomes Mandi K. Ferguson to its Edwardsville office. Ferguson focuses her practice on the defense of product manufacturers and premises owners in Asbestos Litigation, Product Liability and Toxic Tort Litigation. She is admitted to practice in both Illinois and Missouri.

    Ms. Ferguson serves as Vice Chair of the Tort Law Committee for the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and Young Lawyers Liaison to the DRI Law Practice Management Committee. She received her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2007 and her B.A. from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 2001.

  • March 15, 2012 | Practice News
    Cameras approved for criminal trials in Madison County

    Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Judge Ann Callis of the Third Judicial Circuit announced Thursday that news cameras will be allowed in the criminal trial courts in Madison County under a pilot program approved by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

    The Third Circuit follows the 14th Judicial Circuit in the Quad Cities area where extended media coverage has already been implemented under the experimental program, as well as the 21st Circuit which received approval last week for allowing news cameras at criminal trials in Kankakee County.

    “I congratulate Chief Judge Callis for moving her circuit forward in this experimental program,” said Chief Justice Kilbirde. “Madison County and the surrounding area is known for a vibrant and energetic brand of media. Because of its proximity to St. Louis, it will provide the pilot program with input from metropolitan TV and radio stations, who are already accustomed to camera coverage in Missouri courts.

    “The pilot program is proceeding in the 14th Circuit where still or video cameras have already recorded actual court proceedings in Rock Island, Henry and Whiteside counties. In the 21st Circuit, Chief Judge Kathy Bradshaw Elliott has met with media in the Kankakee and Chicago area and expects to implement camera coverage shortly. As the pilot project goes forward in another geographical area of the state, the most important issue is to continue to balance carefully the goals of greater openness and access with dig-nity for the process and the guaranteed rights of defendants to a fair trial.”