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Rita Garman

  • February 14, 2014 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court approves cameras for Peoria County courts

    Remaining 10th Circuit counties will join in 60 days

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced on Friday that news cameras and microphones will be allowed in trial courtrooms in Peoria County in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Peoria County becomes the 36th county in Illinois to participate in the pilot project allowing cameras in trial courtrooms.

    Under Local Rule 15, the remaining four counties in the Circuit will also join the pilot project in 60 days, bringing the grand total of participating counties in Illinois to 40 and the total number of participating circuits to 14. The 10th Judicial Circuit consists of Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark and Tazewell counties in central Illinois.

  • December 12, 2013 | Practice News
    Chief Justice Garman urges increased bar association involvement in public education about the legal system

    Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman outlined several priorities for her three-year term, and urged the organized bar to become more involved in educating the public about legal principles and procedures.

    She also called on Illinois lawyers, through their bar associations, to participate more in the administrative rule-making and other activities of the Supreme Court and its committees.

    Chief Justice Garman became the second woman to head Illinois' third branch of government when she was installed as Chief on October 28. She said that during her tenure as Chief Justice she will continue the Supreme Court's emphasis on civility and professionalism in the legal profession; will work to ensure "prompt judicial decision-making" at all levels of the court system; tailor judicial education programs to include the complexities of today's litigation; and support increased use of technology in courthouses and courtrooms to make the system more efficient and more transparent.

  • November 15, 2013 | Events
    Bar associations luncheon to honor Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman

    The Illinois State Bar Association, The Appellate Lawyers Association, the Chicago Bar Association and the Women's Bar Association will host a luncheon honoring Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman on Dec. 11. The event will begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m. and a luncheon at noon at the Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court in Chicago.

    Tickets are $65 a person and $650 for a table of 10. Contact Tamra Drees at tdrees@chicagobar.org or (312) 554-2057.

  • October 29, 2013 | Events
    Chief Justice Garman to administer oath to new attorneys in Springfield

    Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman will preside over the Fourth Judicial District Bar Admission Ceremony on October 31 in Springfield.

    The 10 a.m. program will be held at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 South Sixth Street.

    Chief Justice Garman, in her first bar admission ceremony as the Chief Justice, will administer the attorney's oath to 82 new lawyers in the Fourth Judicial District.

    All of the candidates have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination, a required ethics examination, and were certified by the Committee on Character and Fitness.

    Hon. Steven H. Nardulli of the Seventh Judicial Circuit will be the keynote speaker. Danville attorney Kerry R. Clapper will make the motion to admit the class. Hon. Jeffrey B. Ford of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Hon. Esteban F. Sanchez of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, and Springfield attorney Saul J. Morse, will second the motion. Springfield attorney and ISBA Board member Jennifer Hammer will also address the class.

    Other guests of the Supreme Court will be Chief Circuit Judges Millard S. Everhart of the Fifth Circuit, Dan L. Flannell of the Sixth Circuit, Leslie J. Graves of the Seventh Circuit, Richard D. Greenlief of the Eight Circuit, and Elizabeth A. Robb of the Eleventh Circuit.

    A reception will follow.

  • September 12, 2013 | Practice News
    Rita B. Garman elected as next Supreme Court Chief Justice

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday that Justice Rita B. Garman will be its next Chief Justice, continuing her remarkable and unprecedented journey to the top of the state's judiciary.

    Justice Garman was chosen unanimously by her fellow justices to succeed Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, who will leave a notable legacy of achievement when his term as Chief concludes October 25. Justice Garman will become the 119th Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court when she assumes the position beginning a three-year term on October 26.

    She will become the second woman in Illinois to be Chief Justice and the second woman to head one of the three branches of government in Illinois. Her selection as Chief Justice on the seven-member Court culminates her long service to the people of Illinois. There are more than 950 judges in Illinois, and Justice Garman has served in the judiciary longer than all of them--except one.

    She first wore the judicial robe in 1974 as an associate judge in Danville in the 5th Judicial Circuit, and will mark her 40th anniversary as an Illinois judge next January 7.

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