Oak Park solo appointed to 11th Subcircuit vacancy

The Illinois Supreme Court yesterday announced the appointment of Oak Park solo practitioner William B. Sullivan to the Susan F. Zwick vacancy in the 11th Judicial Subcircuit. The appointment is effective June 11 and terminates on December 5, 2016.

The Supreme Court appointed Sullivan pursuant to the recommendation of Justice Mary Jane Theis, after screening of applications for the vacancy by her bi-partisan judicial screening committee.

The Supreme Court's press release notes Sullivan's practice experience in a "variety of civil matters including real estate, bank and business transactions, estate planning, landlord-tenant disputes and probate and trust administration." Sullivan has also served as an adjunct professor at his alma mater, De Paul University Law School (he's a 1992 graduate), as a hearing officer for the Illinois State Board of Elections, and was twice elected President of the Cicero Township Trustees of Schools, according to the Supreme Court.

In addition to pro bono work assisting pro se litigants in small claims matters, Sullivan has served as president of the Oak Park-River Forest High School Alumni Association; vice-president of the Oak Park Area Arts Council; president of the Oak Park Huskies Baseball Club; and as a member of the Board of Directors of L'Arche Chicago, a not-for-profit social services organization; and the Oak Park Township Senior Services Committee. Sullivan is a cantor and lector at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Parish, according to the Supreme Court.

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Judicial Evaluation Committees looking for new members

Both the Chicago Bar Association and the members of the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening are looking for help.

The CBA is looking for members to serve in the Investigation Division of its Judicial Evaluation Committee. Current members need not reapply; interested newcomers should download this application from the CBA website and return it to Therese Kurth by fax at 312-554-2054 or by email at tkurth@chicagobar.org by May 15.

Members of Alliance bar groups looking to volunteer for a JEC should contact Alliance Administrator Joyce Williams at 312-920-4676 or email her at jwilliams@isba.org.

The CBA says that this is one of its busiest years in a long time; there are a lot of persons interested in becoming a judge (full disclosure: I have applied for associate judge).

The CBA also says JEC investigators "will learn a great deal about the legal profession while assisting in the JEC's mission to improve the Cook County judiciary." To this I would add -- as long-time FWIW readers already know -- a great many current judges were, at one time, members of one or more judicial evaluation committees. If you are interested in becoming a judge some day (i.e., not in 2016) service on a JEC would (in addition to providing a useful service to the local bench and bar) provide an opportunity to learn more about the judicial selection process and, perhaps, forge connections that may be helpful in someday realizing your own ambitions.

Illinois Judges Foundation Comedy Night set for April 29

The Illinois Judges Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois Judges Association, is presenting a Comedy Night on Wednesday, April 29, at the ISBA's Chicago office, 20 South Clark Street, 9th floor. A reception precedes the show at 5:00 p.m.; the show starts at 6:15 p.m.

Pat McGann Jr. (pictured at left) is the evening's headliner, but other comedians will also perform. The pre-show reception will feature refreshments and a silent auction.

Tickets are $100 each and proceeds support the charitable initiatives of the Illinois Judges Foundation. To buy tickets in advance, click this link to be connected to the payment page on the IJF website.