The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Northern Illinois

  • May 7, 2019 | ISBA News
    Temporary ISBA Service Interruption Scheduled on May 7

    All ISBA systems will be down due to a network upgrade beginning Tuesday, May 7 at 5:00 p.m. The interruption is expected to be short (20 minutes), but could last up to two hours. During this time the ISBA website will not be available. As a result you will also not be able to log into Fastcase, online CLE, and ISBA Central. Here is what you need to know and steps you can take to ensure continued service.

  • May 6, 2019 | Practice News
    Over 300 New Illinois Lawyers to Be Admitted on Thursday

    New attorneys will be admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, May 9, with Illinois Supreme Court justices presiding and administering the attorney's oath to 335 new attorneys across the state. 

    All of the candidates set to be sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They will bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,300.

    The largest group, 245, will be admitted in the First Judicial District during three ceremonies at the James R. Thompson Center Assembly Hall, located at 100 W. Randolph St., in Chicago. The ceremonies will be at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2 p.m. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke will preside over the 9 a.m. ceremony, Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. will preside over the 11:30 a.m. ceremony, and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis will preside over the 2 p.m. ceremony.  

  • April 9, 2019 | People
    Gary Eiten 1954-2019

    Gary R. Eiten, 65, of Peru, died April 3, 2019, in his home surrounded by his family after a 17-year battle with cancer.

    Gary was born Jan. 24, 1954, in Spring Valley to Lyle and Ellen (Knauf) Eiten of Ladd. He married Mary Alice Lund at St. Patrick’s Church in LaSalle on Nov. 28, 1981.

  • April 5, 2019 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Appoints John L. McGehee as Resident Judge in Fourteenth Judicial Circuit

    The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed John L. McGehee as a resident circuit judge in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.

    McGehee was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Lori R. Lefstein on Jan. 30. The appointment is effective May 1, and will conclude Dec. 6, 2020, when the position will be filled by the November 2020 General Election.

  • January 29, 2019 | ISBA News
    File Your Nominating Petitions for ISBA Election by Thursday, January 31

    The deadline to submit nominating petitions for the ISBA election is Thursday, Jan. 31, at 4:30 p.m. at either the Illinois Bar Center, 424 S. 2nd St., Springfield, or the Chicago Regional Office at 20 S. Clark St., Suite 900, Chicago.

    Members of the ISBA will elect a third vice president, 11 seats on the Board of Governors, 45 seats on the Assembly in Cook County, and 88 seats on the Assembly outside Cook County.

    One board seat is open in each of the following Areas: Area 2 (Circuits 17, 19 and 22), Area 4 (circuits 10, 14, and 15), Area 5 (Circuits 5, 6 and 11), Area 7 (Circuits 1, 2 and 4), Under Age 37 in Cook County, and Under Age 37 outside Cook County. Additionally, five seats are open in Cook County.

  • January 2, 2019 | ISBA News
    Nominating Petitions Now Being Accepted for Upcoming ISBA Election

    In the spring, members of the ISBA will elect a third vice president, 11 seats on the Board of Governors, 45 seats on the Assembly in Cook County, and 88 seats on the Assembly outside Cook County.

    One board seat is open in each of the following Areas: Area 2 (Circuits 17, 19 and 22), Area 4 (circuits 10, 14, and 15), Area 5 (Circuits 5, 6 and 11), Area 7 (Circuits 1, 2 and 4), Under Age 37 in Cook County, and Under Age 37 outside Cook County. Additionally, five seats are open in Cook County.

  • November 9, 2018 | Practice News
    November 2018 Bar Admission Ceremony Highlights

    Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices welcomed 1,283 new attorneys to the legal profession on Nov. 8 during admissions ceremonies held at five different locations across the state. 

    ISBA staff members were in attendance at all five ceremonies to welcome the state's newest attorneys to the profession, take photos, and talk about the benefits of ISBA membership, which is free for one year for new admittees. Member benefits can be activated by filling out the New Admittee Membership Form. 

    All of those who were sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 98,000.

  • November 5, 2018 | Practice News
    Over 1,200 New Illinois Lawyers to Be Admitted on Thursday

    New attorneys will be admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, Nov. 8, with Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices presiding and administering the attorney's oath to 1,283 new attorneys at five separate locations across the state. 

    All of the candidates set to be sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They will bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 98,000.

    The largest group, 1,051, will be admitted in the First Judicial District during two ceremonies at the Arie Crown Theater, located at 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago. The ceremonies will be at 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Illinois Supreme Court Justices Mary Jane Theis and P. Scott Neville, Jr., will preside over the morning ceremony.

  • August 9, 2018 | People
    Fiocchi named president of Bureau County Bar Association

    Richard Fiocchi was named president of the Bureau County Bar Association at the July meeting of county lawyers.

    At the meeting, Fiocchi appointed Bureau County Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Engels as secretary of conflicts.

  • July 24, 2018 | People
    William S. Dickenson Named Associate Judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit

    William S. Dickenson has been selected as an associate judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit.

    He is currently affiliated with the Kankakee County State's Attorney's Office. Dickenson received his bachelor's degree and law degree from Indiana University.