The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Northern Illinois

  • August 1, 2014 | People
    Nerino Petro joins Holmstrom & Kennedy as Chief Information Officer

    The law firm of Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C. is pleased to announce that Attorney Nerino J. Petro, Jr. has joined the firm as its new Chief Information Officer.

    A native of Rockford, Illinois, Petro graduated from Northern Illinois University College of Law, in May 1988.  He received a B.A. degree in Political Science, from NIU in May 1985. Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1988 and the Wisconsin Bar in 2007, Petro is a member of the American, Illinois and Wisconsin State, and Winnebago County Bar Associations. He practiced as a solo attorney in Winnebago County for more than 16 years.

    Recognized nationally as a speaker and author on legal technology and practice management, Petro speaks throughout the US and abroad on these topics. He is an active member and past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Committee on Legal Technology. He has accepted the position of Chair of the Winnebago County Bar Association Practice Management Committee for the upcoming year. He served as the first Practice Management Advisor for the State Bar of Wisconsin, and its more than 24,000 members, from 2006-2014.   

    Holmstrom & Kennedy is a century-old, 18-lawyer firm providing innovative solutions to complex issues throughout Northern Illinois, with offices in Rockford and Byron. In addition to business transactions, its attorneys practice in health care, bankruptcy/creditors’ rights, employment and labor, intellectual property, civil litigation, estate planning, real estate, and immigration law.

  • July 31, 2014 | Events
    Roast of ISBA Past President Herb Franks to benefit Prairie State Legal Services

    A roast to celebrate ISBA Past President Herb Franks' more than 50 years of service in the legal profession will be held on Aug. 8 at Donley's Village Hall Banquets, 8512 S. Union Road in Union. The evening begins with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner and roast at 7 p.m. Donation levels range from $75-$500. All proceeds from the event will benefit Prairie State Legal Services.

    Featured roasters include Illinois Supreme Court Justices Anne Burke and Thomas Kilbride, Secretary of State Jesse White, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, McHenry County Judge Michael Caldwell, Appellate Court judges Richard Goldenhersh and Mary Schostock and ISBA Past Presidents Paula H. Holderman and Tim Eaton. Attorney General Lisa Madigan will make the opening remarks.

    For more information, contact Ann Sprague at asprague@fgmlaw.com or (815) 923-2107.

     

  • July 23, 2014 | People
    Stanley J. Roszkowski 1923-2014

    Stanley J. Roszkowski, 91, former district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, passed away on July 7 in Rockford.

    On July 19, 1977, President Jimmy Carter nominated him to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Roszkowski initially was assigned to hear cases in Chicago, where he served full time for seven years, while also hearing cases part time in Rockford.

    He advocated for a permanent court in Rockford. On November 1, 1984, Judge Roszkowski was assigned as the first full time District Court Judge in the Western Division. He served in the Western Division until his retirement in 1988.

    In 2009, Senator Richard J. Durbin introduced legislation to name the United States Courthouse in Rockford, then under construction, for Judge Roszkowski. The legislation became Public Law 111-14 when President Obama signed the bill into law on April 23, 2009. The Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse was officially opened and dedicated on October 29, 2011.

    Chief Judge Ruben Castillo said, “Judge Roszkowski was an outstanding jurist and a wonderful colleague. Stan was a true American hero and patriot who served his country admirably in World War II as a member of the Air Force. He flew numerous combat missions over Europe in the infamous Flying Fortress Bomber Squads. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Roszkowski was one of Rockford’s premier trial attorneys. We will miss him greatly, and our hearts go out to his entire family.”

  • July 23, 2014 | Practice News
    Waller appointed resident circuit judge of DeKalb County

    The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed the Hon. Bradley J. Waller, currently Associate Judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit, to Resident Circuit Judge of of the 23rd Judicial Circuit, DeKalb County. This appointment is effective July 28, 2014 and terminates on Dec. 5, 2016.

  • July 17, 2014 | People
    Hon. Raymond J. Conklin 1949-2014

    The Honorable Raymond J. Conklin, 64, of Moline, gourmet chef, bread baker extraordinaire and master gardener, died July 4, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his family, after living for nine months with Stage IV cancer.

    Raymond James Conklin was born Sept. 17, 1949, in Rockford, Ill., to Raymond and Doral (Oskins) Conklin. On Sept. 13, 1986, in Davenport, he married Renee Fallow, who survives.

    Ray attended St. Olaf College, Minnesota, and received his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate from University of Iowa, Iowa City, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He was very proud of the fact that he only missed one point on his LSAT exam to get into law school. He was a partner at Robertson & Conklin Law Offices for many years. In 2004, he was appointed Associate Judge to the 14th Judicial Circuit Court, State of Illinois. He also was appointed to the Illinois Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice & Mental Health Planning. He held memberships in the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Rock Island County Bar Association and Illinois Association of Drug Court Professionals.

    Throughout Ray’s life, he was a champion of social justice in both his career as a judge, and his personal life, where he focused on helping those without a voice. He was the first judge and co-founder of Rock Island County Mental Health Court, and believed that an integrated approach combining the justice system with mental health services was the key to reducing repeat offenders with mental illnesses.

  • June 26, 2014 | People
    Marvin S. Andich 1922-2014

    Marvin S. Andich, 92, of Rock Island, died Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Silver Cross Nursing Center, Rock Island.

    Funeral services are 3 p.m. Tuesday at Congregation Beth Israel at the Tri City Jewish Center, Rock Island. Burial is in the Hebrew Cemetery, Rock Island. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island, is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to the Congregation Beth Israel, the Jewish Federation of the Quad-Cities or to the American Cancer Society/Relay for Life — Marla's Marvels' Team.

    Marvin S. Andich was born Jan. 5, 1922, in Rock Island, a son of Louis and Sadie Pollack Andich. He married Beverly A. Shapiro on May 27, 1948, in Davenport. She died Jan. 22, 2013.

    Marvin graduated from Rock Island High School and Augustana College. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Iowa School of Law. He practiced law in Rock Island for almost 60 years at the law firm of Andich and Andich. In early years, he served as a hearing officer for the Illinois Department of Revenue and in later years served as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General. Marvin also owned with his late brothers the Readmore Book World stores in Rock Island and Moline, as well as the Andich Brothers News Agency.

  • June 12, 2014 | People
    Thomas O. Meyer 1951-2014

    Thomas O. Meyer, 63, of Rockford died Saturday, May 24, 2014 at home with his wife, Lydia, by his side holding his hand. Tom fought a six year battle with cancer, which he tackled with unbelievable strength and courage. He was born March 5, 1951 in Rockford, IL to Eugene and Ellen (Roland) Meyer. He married the love of his life, Lydia Salucka Lindstrom, on February 6, 1993 in Rockford, Illinois. He was a member of Rockford Country Club and Winnebago County Bar Association.

    Tom graduated from Auburn High School, Illinois State University and John Marshal Law School. He practiced law for 38 years with several partners—all of whom remained friends long after their law partnerships dissolved---including Tom Nash, Gordy Ring, Barney Natale and Tim Horning. He assisted thousands of friends, family and clients in his practice of law; and had the honor and pleasure of practicing law with his son, Nick, for five years.

  • June 11, 2014 | ISBA News
    Petruchius to receive Board of Governors Award

    Mary F. Petruchius, of Sycamore, a private practice lawyer in Sycamore, will receive a 2014 Board of Governors Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) at the organization’s 138th Annual Meeting on Friday, June 20, at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.

    As the 2013-14 chair of the ISBA’s Standing Committee on Women and the Law, Petruchius is being recognized for her efforts to promote women as lawyers. Under her leadership, the ISBA presented or co-sponsored seven events, including a networking breakfast at Southern Illinois University School of Law; a “30 Female Blackstones” event at Winston & Strawn in Chicago, and two programs in March during Women’s History Month in both Chicago and at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. The committee also co-sponsored a reception in the fall during a meeting of the National Association of Women Lawyers Foundation.

  • June 10, 2014 | Practice News
    Jeffrey appointed circuit judge in 15th Circuit

    The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the appointment of Associate Judge David L. Jeffrey as a Circuit Court Judge in the 15th Judicial Circuit. Judge Jeffrey was appointed to fill the Resident Circuit Court vacancy in Stephenson County created by the announced retirement of Judge Theresa L. Ursin effective August 31, 2014.

  • May 22, 2014 | People
    Joseph P. Marto 1938-2014

    Former ISBA Counsel Joseph P. Marto passed away on Feb. 28, 2014. He was born on March 18, 1938 in Great Falls, MT. After living in Shelby Montana, he was raised in Oregon and Washington finally settling in Sprague in Lincoln County.

    He entered the seminary in 1954, and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Spokane in 1963, receiving his M.Div. Degree. He worked in several parishes until he became Diocesan Director of Religious Education. In 1971, he left the active ministry and married Rosemary Gaffney.

    They moved to Chicago, where he attended The John Marshall Law School, receiving his J.D. degree in 1974 in the top 10 of his class. His legal career began in Springfield, IL as house counsel for the Illinois State Bar Association.

    From there, he moved to various firms in Chicago, primarily as a trial attorney for insurance defense firms. He obtained a Real Estate Broker 's license in 1976, and owned several apartment buildings. He retired to McHenry IL in 1989, and began an active life of volunteering. He first organized a computer class for Seniors at McHenry Township and then became involved in the AARP Tax Aide Program preparing free taxes for Senior Citizens. He also ran a free legal aide program at Senior Services for several years.

    After 15 years in the AARP Tax Aide program, he became ill in January and died on February 28, 2014. A memorial service will be held at the Church of Holy Apostles in McHenry on Thursday, March 6, 2014 with a gathering at the Church Chapel at 10:00 and Mass at 10:30. Joe is survived by Rosemary, his wife of 42 years, several cousins, and many nieces and nephews.