ISBA recognizes senior government lawyers

oFllowing the Committee on Government Lawyers' CLE presentation "Basics of the Legislative Process" on March 7, 2005, the committee hosted a networking reception in Springfield to honor nine Senior Government Lawyers for their years of service-to government and to the bar. We applaud each of our honorees for their dedication.

Cheryl Cesario was the General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from 1995 to 2003. Prior to that, she served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County. Now with the John Marshall Law School as Assistant Director for the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, Cheryl is a long-time ISBA member. [Editors' note: Ms. Cesario was recently selected as an associate judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County. She will be sworn into office on June 1, 2005.]

James W. Chipman serves as the Executive Director and Legal Counsel for the State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. He has been a government attorney since 1982. He is past chair of the ISBA State and Local Taxation Section Council, a member of the ISBA Administrative Law Section Council, and a Illinois Bar Foundation fellow.

Nancy G. Easum is with the Illinois State Police, currently serving as a supervisor in the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Testing Section. She also served as Special Counsel to the Director of the State Police. She previously worked in the Secretary of State's office as Deputy Director of the Department of Administrative Hearings and for the State's Attorney's Office.

Frank J. Kopecky is with the Center for Legal Studies at the University of Illinois-Springfield and is former Chief Counsel of the Illinois Department of Child Family Services. He began his career with the Office of Economic Opportunity, Legal Services. He has been a government attorney since 1968.

Arden J. Lang is an Assistant Defender with the Office of the State Appellate Defender, serving as the Deputy Defender this year. She also serves as President of the Government Bar Association. She has been involved with the GBA since its inception.

Marc C. Loro is with the Office of the Secretary of State, Department of Administrative Hearings. He also served as an Assistant State's Attorney in McLean County. A member of the ISBA since 1977, Marc is a former chair of the ISBA Standing Committee on Government Lawyers.

Joseph Michael Mathis, Jr., served as the Commissioner of the Illinois Court of Claims until last year, serving as staff counsel prior to that. He has been an ISBA member since 1983.

Charles Prorok began his work with the Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office in 1978. He was named chief of the civil division in 1985 and currently serves as Deputy State's Attorney for Winnebago County.

Anita Williams recently retired from the Illinois Department of Human Services where she served as Assistant General Counsel. She also served as Assistant General Counsel at the Illinois Department of Public Aid. She has published many romantic suspense and mystery novels.