Chicago Bar Record

October, 2006

President’s Page

By: Kevin P. Durkin, President

Remembering Justice Seymour Simon

Justice Seymour Simon’s death at the end of September was a great loss to the people of our city and state. Throughout his distinguished career in public service, which spanned more than 50 years, Justice Simon remained an active member of our Association. Justice Simon served as an Alderman from the 40th Ward (1955-61 and 1967-74), as a Cook County Board Commissioner (1961-62), as President of the Cook County Board (1962-66), as an Appellate Court Justice (1974-80) and as a Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court (1980-88). He was a true scholar who loved the law and contributed greatly to its advancement. Not surprisingly, Justice Simon also loved Chicago and generously shared his good fortune to benefit our community. Seymour Simon will be remembered for his undaunted courage, indomitable spirit, and strong principles which were tethered to a moral compass that provided constant and sure guidance in his pursuit of justice. And, whether you ultimately agreed or disagreed with him or with his legal opinions, you couldn’t help but feel a profound respect for this honorable man whose integrity never wavered. The legacy of Justice Seymour Simon is one of true service; we are all better because of him.

Pro Bono Week: Challenging Lawyers to Make a Difference

The Association and the Bar Foundation are proud to honor lawyers who provide pro bono services to the needy of our community during pro bono week, which begins with a speech from Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke on Monday, October 16 at 11:30 a.m. in the ceremonial courtroom at the Daley Center. Pro Bono Week will also inform the greater Chicago about th wide range of pro bono opportunities and programs that are available in our country. The Young Lawyers Section and Jenner & Block will host a Pro Bono and Community Service Fair on Thursday, October 19 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Jenner & Block’s Chicago Offices. The Fair provides lawyers and law students with an opportunity to make volunteer connections with over 40 legal aid and pro bono organizations. Complimentary CLE programming for volunteers will also be available on Wednesday and Friday of that week. I encourage all of our members to attend one or more of the special events we have planned for Pro Bono Week. For more information, read the outstanding articles about pro bono work in this issue of the CBA Record, starting on page 38. Also, I want to give special thanks to the Young Lawyers Section, Jenner & Block, the Bar Foundation and the Pro Bono Week Planning Committee for putting together this superb program.

Conference of World City Bar Leaders

I can’t tell you how proud I am of the outstanding programming that the CBA developed for the Conference of World City Bar Leaders, which was hosted by our Association in mid-September. The three-day-conference featured an impressive array of internationally and nationally recognized speakers, including: Mickey Kantor, Richard Williamson, Thomas Sullivan, Richard Franch, William H. Knull; DePaul professors Alberto Coll, Howard Rubin and Brian Havel; John Marshall Law School professor Ann Louisin, Joseph Marguiles, Lynne Heistand, and Carrie DiSanto. The Conference was established in 2001 by the world’s largest city bar leaders and focuses on important international and national issues, e.g., Human Rights, Trade, International Banking, the Attorney Client Privilege, International Arbitration, and Legal Services. The Conference was attended by more than 19 Bar Leaders from London, Paris, Mexico City, Montreal, Toronto, New South Wales, Tokyo, Singapore, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Brussels, Rome, Philadelphia, New York City and more.

Our Association is truly among the leading metropolitan bar association’s in the world and one important outcome of this year’s conference will be the establishment of a World City Bar Leaders Web site where each of our Associations will share information and network on an ongoing basis.

CLE in Ireland

Our Association, in conjunction with the University College of Dublin’s School of Law, the Kings Inn, the Incorporated Law Society of Dublin, and Ulster Bank RBS Ireland will present a unique CLE in Ireland program March 14-18, 2007. Topics to be covered at the Ireland program include: "Globalization of the Practice of Law," "Civil and Criminal Trial Practice in the Irish and American Courts," "Trends in International Banking--A Global Perspective," and "International Arbitration." Daniel Gallagher is Chairing the special planning committee, along with our Honorary Event Co-Chairs, Judge William J. Bauer, Philip H. Corboy and Cook County State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine. We have an outstanding faculty including lawyers from Chicago and Barristers from Ireland. A variety of social events are planned, including a buffet dinner hosted by Ulster Bank on Thursday, March 15, and dinner at the famous Kings Inn on Friday, March 16. For more information, read the program or see the ad on page 15 of this issue of the CBA Record. Make your reservations early and don’t miss this unique opportunity to visit the Emerald Isle and obtain MCLE Credit.