From the Chair

It is hard to believe that November has arrived, bringing cool weather and the changing leaves of autumn. It has also brought a change in the ISBA Standing Committee on Government Lawyers: Mr. Pablo Eves has resigned as the Chair of the Committee due to an increased workload from a promotion at the Office of the McLean County State’s Attorney. During our last meeting, the Committee wished him sincere congratulations and thanked him for his service. As the Vice-Chair, I was appointed to fill the vacancy. I appreciate the chance to continue Mr. Eves’ initiatives for this year, and I thank ISBA President Richard Felice for this opportunity. The Committee continues to appreciate the work of Marylou Kent as our Secretary, Patrick Driscoll as the CLE Liaison, and Lynn Patton and Kathryn Kelly as the editors of The Public Servant.

The members of the Committee have been off to a fantastic start this year by planning three CLE presentations. We are planning to present the Ethics Extravaganza as a live program, which has garnered great reviews in the past. We are also planning two programs that will be taped and available on the ISBA Web site, free to ISBA members. The topics of these programs will be Concealed Carry Permits and Technology/Cameras in the Courtroom. The subcommittee members are hard at work planning these programs to be available to ISBA members in early 2015. Details will be on the ISBA Web site in the coming weeks.

In addition to the CLE programs, the Committee has the pleasure of nominating a distinguished government attorney to receive the Roz Kaplan Award, to be presented by the ISBA for the first time in 2015. Roz Kaplan was an attorney who dedicated her career to public service. She worked for many years in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, eventually serving as the Illinois Solicitor General. She was also employed with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, serving as a supervisor of the appellate division. She also served for many years on the ISBA’s Committee on Government Lawyers. Roz died a few years ago, and the ISBA has established this award in her name to be presented to long-serving government attorneys who embody the dedication and excellence that Roz represented. Please feel free to contact any member of the Committee if you would like to nominate a government attorney for this award.

In closing, I would like to invite all readers to share their comments and concerns about practicing law in the public sector with the Committee. A goal of the Committee is to bring ideas from one government legal office to other government legal offices. Please share your thoughts with us on issues, solutions, and any topic that you face in your practice as a government attorney. We believe it may surprise us how often the same issues arise throughout the public sector. Thank you and we look forward to another great year. ■