Two Cook County Circuit Court judges withdraw from retention election

According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Judges James Brown and Diane Gordon Cannon have withdrawn from the November retention ballot.

These moves result in a new countywide vacancy (Cannon) and a new 14th Subcircuit vacancy (Brown). Both will be filled in the 2022 election.

(Assuming we get that far.)

Decalogue Society, Arab American Bar Association Building Bridges event set for Wednesday, September 9

The Decalogue Society and the Arab American Bar Association of Illinois are planning a Building Bridges event on Wednesday, September 9, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., that you may attend from wherever you choose, inasmuch as the event will be conducted via Zoom. If you have two devices, say, a tablet and a laptop, you can even attend this event and the Diversity Scholarship Foundation fundraiser that starts at the same time, but is scheduled to last an hour longer.

With Zoom, one really can be in multiple places at once. (And, if it's a concern for you, Decalogue Executive Director Aviva Patt advises that the Building Bridges program will last only about a half hour, with the balance of the time reserved for virtual mingling.) The honorees for this event are Arab American Bar Association President Marvet Sweis Drnovsek and Decalogue Recording Secretary, Judge Megan Goldish.

To register, click here or here. I'm not sure that telling you which link takes you where is entirely in the 'building bridges' spirit, so I'll let you figure that out for yourself.

But, all kidding aside, building bridges is much better than burning them. And may avoid the need for lifting them, too.

Diversity Scholarship Foundation plans September 9 "Virtual Reception"

Fundraising continues even in the Year of Never-Ending Pandemic.

The Diversity Scholarship Foundation is hosting a virtual reception on Wednesday, September 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., in your den, kitchen, patio, or wherever you may Zoom.

At the reception, the DSF will honor three DSF committee members who, just last year, were selected as Cook County Associate Judges, Amee E. Alonso, Michael J. Hogan Jr., and John A. Simon. Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans will be the featured speaker; Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Tickets are $25 apiece and are available at this link. Proceeds will support the Foundation's scholarship fund.