The Honorable Lloyd A. Karmeier was installed Monday as Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court in a ceremony at the Supreme Court Building in Springfield. Justice Rita B. Garman administered the oath of office. Speakers included Supreme Court Justices Anne M. Burke, Robert R. Thomas and retired Justice Philip J. Rarick. Chief Justice Karmeier's brother, Del Karmeier, gave the invocation and the Karmeier grandchildren led the pledge of allegiance. Chief Justice Karmeier, of Nashville, Illinois, is this State’s 120th Chief Justice and the second person from Washington County to hold that office. Justice Byron O. House, for whom Chief Justice Karmeier served as a law clerk, was the first.

Illinois Bar Foundation 2016 Fellows Breakfast Friday, December 9, 2016 – 7:30-9:00 a.m. Join the Fellows of the Illinois Bar Foundation in honoring Ann Hatch (Herzog Crebs LLP), a Diamond Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation, with the 2016 Distinguished Service to Law & Society Award, and former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP) with the 2016 Honorary Fellow Award.

In this Agreed Final Order, Ms. Michelle Cummins was found guilty of minor indirect criminal contempt for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law by accepting a position as a licensed lawyer with a corporate employer. Ms. Cummins was ordered to pay $500 in court costs and sentenced to one year of non-reporting probation. ARDC v. Cummins, Cook County No. 16 MC1-600160 (October 28, 2016).

Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Marion attorney John W. Sanders as the Resident Circuit Judge of Williamson County in the First Judicial Circuit. Mr. Sanders was appointed Thursday to fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of resident Circuit Judge Carolyn Smoot, effective November 30, 2016. The appointment of Mr. Sanders takes effect on December 1, 2016, and will conclude on December 3, 2018, when the vacancy will be filled by the winner of the November 2018 general election. "I'm honored that Chief Justice Karmeier and the Supreme Court have the confidence in me to serve as a Circuit Judge," Sanders said. "I've had the pleasure to represent clients throughout Southern Illinois for the past 28 years. I now look forward to working with the other judges to serve the people of Williamson County and the First Judicial Circuit."