Michael A. Strom appointed to new 9th Subcircuit vacancy

Updated

It's official now.

As reported earlier today in this space, the Illinois Supreme Court today appointed Michael A. Strom to a 9th Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Marvin Luckman. The appointment is effective January 10, 2019, and will terminate December 7, 2020.

Licensed in Illinois since 1977 and currently employed in the office of Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, Strom worked for Schaffenegger, Watson & Peterson early in his career before moving to CNA as staff counsel.

Strom recently received the Light of Righteousness Award from the Decalogue Society of Lawyers (Strom served as President of this group in 2012-13). Working with the Chicago Coalition for Law-Related Education, Strom has also served as a teacher and coach of mock trial teams at South Shore High School. He was a candidate for a 9th Subcircuit vacancy in the 2014 primary.

James T. Derico, Jr. appointed to Coghlan vacancy

The Illinois Supreme Court today appointed James T. Derico, Jr. to the countywide vacancy created by the retention defeat of Judge Matthew E. Coghlan.

The Supreme Court also issued a press release with today's order, confirming that this appointment was made on the recommendation of Justice Mary Jane Theis.

Justice Theis did not announce any appointment process for this vacancy; however, the Court's press release indicates that Derico's credentials were reviewed by Justice Theis's screening committee. The implication is that Derico was a finalist for one of the two countywide appointments announced yesterday.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1985, Derico began his career as an associate with Gardner, Carton & Douglas (now Drinker, Biddle & Reath). He subsequently worked in-house for Borg-Warner Corporation and an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago specializing in contracts and commercial law. Derico founded his present firm, Derico & Associates, P.C., in 1992. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Derico did his undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame.

According to the Supreme Court's press release, Derico has served on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee for Civil Jury Instructions. He was the recipient of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) Distinguished Service Award in 2009 and 2014. Derico is a member of the Chicago Bar Association (serving as Chair of the YLS Corporate Practices Group) and the Cook County Bar Association.

Derico's appointment is effective January 18, 2019; it will terminate on December 7, 2020.

Illinois Supreme Court fills four vacancies

Updated 12/18/18

The Illinois Supreme Court today filled four vacancies on the Circuit Court of Cook County, two countywide vacancies, and one each in the 2nd and 14th Subcircuits.

These vacancies were announced in September by Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis. Each of the appointments made today will terminate on December 7, 2020.

The Supreme Court appointed Lynn Weaver-Boyle to the countywide Patti vacancy (press release).

Weaver-Boyle, currently a partner in the Chicago office of a partner in the Chicago office of Grotefeld Hoffmann Schleiter Gordon & Ochoa, LLP, was on the associate judge 'short list' earlier this year. Licensed as an attorney in 1990, Weaver-Boyle served as an Assistant State's Attorney for nine years. Her appointment is effective January 11, 2019.

The Supreme Court appointed Assistant Corporation Counsel Kerrie Maloney Laytin to the countywide Bellows vacancy (press release).

Currently serving as Senior Counsel in the Appeals Division of the City of Chicago Law Department, Maloney Laytin is a 1997 graduate of Columbia Law School. She began her legal career as a clerk for Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, later clerking for the Hon. Carolyn Dineen King, Chief Judge of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Licensed in Illinois since 2000, Maloney Laytin also serves on the Board of Directors for High Jump, a two-year tuition-free academic enrichment program that serves motivated 7th and 8th grade students from families of limited economic means. Her appointment is effective January 18.

Will County Assistant State's Attorney Sondra Nicole Denmark was appointed to the 2nd Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Alexander P. White.

Denmark has been licensed in Illinois since 2004. She was a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney for three years; she has served in Will County for the last 10 years. She has also worked as a solo practitioner, according to the Supreme Court's press release. Denmark was a candidate for a 15th Subcircuit vacancy in the 2014 primary. Her appointment is effective December 27.

The Supreme Court also appointed Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Gerardo Tristan, Jr. to the Bertucci vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit (press release).

Tristan has been licensed in Illinois since 2002, according to ARDC. The Court's press release notes that Tristan has served on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and as Regional President of the National Hispanic Prosecutors Association. His appointment is effective January 11, 2019.

CBA "Holiday Sparkle" Concert on Wednesday

December is surging past us, going faster than Santa's reindeer, and, with one obligation or another, this blogger has missed the opportunity to plug nearly every holiday program. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

But I still have time to mention -- and you still have time to attend -- a "Holiday Sparkle" concert, by the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, this Wednesday, December 19, at 7:30 p.m., at St. James Episcopal Cathedral, at Wabash and Huron.

Tickets are $12 in advance (available here) or $20 at the door.

The CBA Symphony Orchestra and Chorus is composed of musicians who also work as lawyers, judges, and law students. One of the conductors Wednesday will be Michael D. Poulos, one of my law school classmates.

For more information about the concert, visit this page of the CBA website.