518 new attorneys admitted to practice in Illinois

Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court administered the attorney’s oath to 518 new attorneys on Thursday, May 5 at five separate locations across the state.

The largest group, 327, were admitted in the First Judicial District during three ceremonies at James R. Thompson Center Assembly Hall, located at 100 W. Randolph St., in Chicago. The ceremonies were at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. View photos from the 1st District ceremony at http://iln.isba.org/gallery/1037/1st-district-admission-ceremony,-may-2016. Photos from the other admission ceremonies will be available Monday.

All of the candidates sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,500.

Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the 9 a.m. ceremony.

Guests of the morning ceremony included Randy K. Johnson, of the Illinois Board of Admissions; Umberto Davi, president of the Illinois State Bar Association; and Chung-Han Lee, president of the Asian American Bar Association.

Retired Cook County Associate Judge James P. Etchingham made the move for admission of the class. His son took the attorney's oath during the ceremony.

Justice Charles E. Freeman and Appellate Justice Cynthia Y. Cobbs presided over the 11:30 a.m. ceremony.

Guests of the second First District ceremony included Patricia Brown Holmes, president of the Chicago Bar Association; LaShonda Hunt, president of the Black Women Lawyers' Association; and Thomas A. Clancy, of the Illinois Board of Admissions. Justice Cobbs made the motion for admission of the class.

Justice Mary Jane Theis presided over the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

Guests of the afternoon ceremony included attorneys Arlene Y. Coleman, president of the Cook County Bar Association; Matthew A. Sidor, president of the Advocates Society; and Enrico Mirabelli, who made the motion for admission of the class. Mr. Mirabelli's son took the oath during the ceremony.

Kenneth G. Jablonski, clerk of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, served as acting marshal at all three of the First District ceremonies.

In addition to Chicago, ceremonies were held Thursday in Springfield, Elgin, Ottawa, and Collinsville.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman presided over the Fourth Judicial District ceremony, which will began at 10 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Illinois Supreme Court Building, 200 E. Capitol Ave. in Springfield. ISBA Treasurer David Sosin addressed the admittees.

Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas presided over the Second Judicial District ceremony at 10 a.m. at Hemmens Memorial Building in the Elgin Civic Center Plaza, 45 Symphony Way, in Elgin. ISBA President-Elect Vincent F. Cornelius addressed the admittees.

Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride presided over the Third Judicial District ceremony at the Third District Appellate Courthouse, 1004 Columbus St. in Ottawa. ISBA 2nd Vice President Hon. Russell W. Hartigan addressed the admittees.

Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided over the Fifth Judicial District ceremony at 2 p.m. at Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Dr. in Collinsville. ISBA Secretary Sonni Choi Williams addressed the admittees.

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Chris Bonjean
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