Daniel B. Malone appointed to Cook County bench

Daniel B. Malone, a partner at the Healy Law Firm Ltd., has been appointed to the Cook County Circuit Court effective February 24, 2009. Malone will fill the "A" vacancy in the Third Subcircuit. His appointment will expire on December 6, 2010.

Malone obtained his undergraduate degree in 1979 from the University of Illinois and his law degree from DePaul University in 1986. He's been a partner at the Healy Law Firm since 2001 concentrating in personal injury and worker's compensation matters. According to his biography on the Healy firm website, Malone "currently serves as the Vice President and was the former Treasurer and on the Board of Directors for the Workers' Compensation Association. He is on the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association."

Malone made the Law Bulletin last March when the Illinois Appellate Court reinstated a claim he brought against Commonwealth Edison on behalf of a City of Chicago electrician who was injured while working in the Heating and Refrigeration (H & R) building at O'Hare International Airport, performing maintenance work on a circuit breaker. The Appellate Court held that the construction statute of repose did not apply to Commonwealth Edison's duty to maintain its equipment, even if the equipment had been installed more than 20 years before. The case is Ryan v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 381 Ill.App.3d 877, 885 N.E.2d 544 (1st Dist. 2008).

According to the Healy Firm website, Malone has served as Chairman of the Finance Committee of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Chicago, also participating as a cantor and in the church choir. Malone has also been "a long term Commissioner and was the former Chairman of the Southwest Home Equity Assurance Program" and "currently serves as a Commissioner on the Midway Noise Compatibility Commission."

Rep. Scully appointed to 15th Subcircuit vacancy

Flossmoor State Representative George Scully, Jr. (D-80) has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the 15th Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Thomas P. Panichi. According to a February 5 post by Ashley Rueff on the Tribune's "Clout Street" blog, Scully broke the happy news yesterday to his House colleagues. They responded with a round of applause. Rueff's post quotes Scully as saying that, as a judge, "I have to keep my opinions to myself, and that is a big transition."

According to his House biography, Scully did his undergraduate work at Northern Illinois University and obtained his law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He also took graduate courses at Oxford University. Scully was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1981. His law office was located in Tinley Park.

Scully's appointment is effective February 27, 2009 and terminates December 6, 2010.

William R. Jackson Jr. appointed to Riley vacancy

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the appointment of Evanston attorney William R. Jackson Jr. to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Mr. Jackson, a partner in the firm of Bradley & Jackson, will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ronald C. Riley. The appointment begins on March 2, 2009 and terminates on December 6, 2010.

A 1974 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law and a certified public accountant, Jackson worked for Winston & Strawn from 1974 to 1978. He founded Bradley & Jackson in 1988 and, in between, worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers in Chicago, Container Corporation of America, and Borg-Warner Corporation. Since 2001 Jackson has worked as an administrative law judge in Evanston; in addition, according to the Supreme Court's press release, Jackson has been a arbitrator with the Financial Institute Regulatory Authority since 1992, "mediating cases between the investing public against brokerage firms and their employees."

Jackson was among the finalists for Associate Judge in 2008. The Chicago Council of Lawyers reported at that time that, "Attorneys view Mr. Jackson as smart, well prepared, and knowledgeable. He is praised for his even temperament and his calming influence in heated situations."