​​​MCBA NEWSLETTER

​​​​​ ​​october 31, 2022
2022
November Events
11/2/2022 (Wed.)
CLE - Noon

11/4/2022 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

11/8/2022 (Tues.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

11/10/2022 (Thurs.)
Happy Hour 5:00 pm

11/11/2022 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

11/1/2022 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

11/22/2022 (Tues.)
CLE Committee Meeting

11/18/2022 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

11/24/2022 (Thurs.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

11/25/2022 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

11/30/2022 (Wed.)
Criminal Law Committee Meeting

​December Events
​12/9/2022 (Fri.)
ADR Committee Meeting

12/14/2022 (Wed.)
Holiday Luncheon

12/26/2022 (Mon.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

12/27/2022 (Tues.)
CLE Committee Meeting

2023
January Events
1/2/2023 (Mon.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

1/4/2023 (Wed.)
Criminal Law Committee Meeting

1/16/2023 (Mon.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

1/17/2023 (Tues.)
CLE Luncheon

February Events
2/13/2023 (Mon.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

2/20/2023 (Mon.)
Law & Justice Center - Closed

All Court Holidays & Closures

2023 mcba membership renewals

Click on the MCBA logo above to renew! Thank you for your continued support!!

COURT NOTES


October 27, 2022
To:  The McLean County Bar Association:

Happy Fall!
​
I hope this message finds you well as we gear up for winter (ugghh!). Just a quick update on Court operations as follows:

​1. The latest Administrative Order concerning docket changes was entered on October 26, 2022 and is being distributed now. The effective date is January 1, 2023, and we always stand ready to make necessary adjustments as circumstances arise. While we always intend to anticipate 
all possible scenarios, unfortunately some problems don’t surface until after the changes take effect. Updated secretarial assignments and chamber locations will be posted soon.

2. A big thanks to Judge Costigan and Judge Kording on their tireless work in planning for the implementation of the Bond Reform Act. The stakeholder meetings continue to evolve and as is contained in the new AO, a new docket has been created to handle the twists and turns of the Bond Reform law.

3. Another thank you to all that helped and attended the joint reception for Justice Holder White and Justice Garman. Both Justices remarked that they appreciated the reception and had kind words to say about the MCBA and the 11th Circuit. 

4. My Chief Judge term is winding down and it has been a pleasure to serve as Chief Judge since July 2018. While Covid dominated a chunk of my two Chief Judge terms, I am proud of the progress we made as a Circuit. How we conduct Court today could not have been envisioned when I first took office before the pandemic. I am proud of how the Bar has been receptive to the changes and of the Judges, staff, Court Reporters, and all others in the L&J that immediately rose to the challenge and persevered through it all. It has made us collectively stronger and more resilient. I am confident that we are in a better position now to address whatever comes our way in terms of court operations. I thank you for your patience and understanding throughout my terms. The Circuit is in great hands with Judge Costigan taking over as Chief Judge on January 1, 2023, and I look forward to his leadership.

5. Lastly, we decided to fold the October 2022 Bench/Bar Listening Session into the upcoming November 2, Bond Reform Act update and will be happy to address questions and concerns related to court operations at that time.

As always, feel free to contact Will Scanlon, Trial Court Administrator, with any court-related questions.
​
Best regards.
Chief Judge Mark A. Fellheimer

SAVE THE DATE
holiday luncheon ​wednesday, december 14 - noon

friday-breakfast with the bar
​special guest!

​Normal’s Deputy Corporation Counsel, Jason Querciagrossa, recently brought his young daughter to breakfast with the bar.

MCBA SCHOLARSHIP

If you know of any L2 or L3 law students, please inform them about the 2022 MCBA Community Service Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship is open to second or third year law students with strong ties to McLean County, Bloomington-Normal, or its surrounding communities. Prime candidates will express and demonstrate a commitment to legal aid work, pro bono activities, or community service. Please see the link to the scholarship application below.
The application deadline is October 31, 2022. ​
Click on the image above to submit an application.

CLE
tuesday - december 6 - NOON
ethics: rules every lawyer must know

This one-hour program will survey some of the most important rules of ethics that every attorney should know and the possible consequences of violating these rules.  Judge Thomas Funk and Retired Judge David Butler will identify and explain rules of ethics found in the Illinois Code of Professional Conduct. Topics will include: safekeeping of client’s property (trust accounts), duty to report professional misconduct of other attorneys (In re Himmel), dealing with unrepresented persons, confidentiality of information, meritorious claim or contentions, communication with person represented by counsel, firm names and letterhead, attorneys fees, client-lawyer sexual relationships, and ex parte communications with judges. 

instagram

Stay more connected with what is happening in the MCBA by following us on Instagram. Follow "mcba1831" and invite your colleagues."

project santa 2022

MCLEAN COUNTY NURSING HOME RESIDENT​

Upcoming CLC Meetings & A CLE
November 2 at Noon - Bond Reform-SAFE-T Act CLE
November 30 at 8:15 a.m.
January 4, 2023, at Noon
​
Brendan Bukalski, Committee Chair [ brendan@jlawgroup.com ]

CLE
wednesday - november 2 - NOON
a hybrid event
bond reform nuts & bolts

[1 Hour General CLE Approved]
​Bond reform, commonly known as the “Pre-Trial Fairness Act” or the “Safe T Act,” will take effect in 2023. The Act completely overhauls our system from arrest to pre-trial procedure. Its impact will be felt by everyone involved in our criminal courts: those accused, police, clerks, jails, prosecutors and defense attorneys. Understandably, there are lots of questions about it. This CLE will help answer many questions about the Act, and will inform attendees of its content, implementation, and discuss possible issues and/or concerns.

HELP NEEDED!
​I.S.U. MOCK TRIAL TOURNAMENT

UPDATED AGAIN!:  HELP STILL NEEDED! – I.S.U. MOCK TRIAL TOURNAMENT
 
We still need help for Round 3 (Saturday afternoon) and Round 4 (Sunday morning)!  Please help if you can. 
 
The Illinois State University Mock Trial Program is hosting its 20th annual invitational mock trial tournament at the McLean County Law & Justice Center on the weekend of November 4-6, 2022.  We need volunteer judges/evaluators for the tournament! 
 
Any available attorneys, paralegals, judges, and other law-related professionals are invited to participate, and we need your help!  Please see the attached flyer for details about the tournament, this year’s mock trial case, and instructions for how to sign up as a volunteer judge/evaluator.
 
Thank you!
 
--Scott Kording

CLE
WEDNESDAY - NOVEMBER 9 - NOON

Fair Housing for Your Everyday Practice: Part Two

[1 Hour General CLE Approved]
​FREE
Join fair housing attorneys from Prairie State Legal Services as they share recent updates on Illinois fair housing laws and then delve into a discussion about rights of people with disabilities in housing. We will talk about both reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications in housing, including the right to have emotional support animals, as well as the right to ask for structural changes to the property to make it accessible. Join us for this free event, no matter whether your clients are landlords, tenants, staff of local municipalities, or housing authorities. This program offers one hour of general MCLE credit. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Please see the updated Court-Based Rental Assistance (CBRAP) document that needs to be included with eviction summonses. The Supreme Court of Illinois recently updated Order M.R. 30370. It can be located at this LINK. Pursuant to Order M.R. 30370, all eviction summons shall include a notice regarding CBRAP in English and Spanish. The attached CBRAP notices have been modified to include the contact phone number for The Immigration Project, the local agency assigned by IHDA to help litigants complete CBRAP applications.
 
Adrian Barr
Managing Attorney - PSLS

social - happy hour
fiala brothers brewery

Thursday, November 10 beginning at 5:00 pm

​127 E Beaufort St, Normal, IL, United States, Illinois

upcoming cle events

​Wednesday - November 2: Noon - Bond Reform Nuts & Bolts
Tuesday, December 6: Noon - Ethics
Tuesday - January 17. 2023: Noon - State of the Circuit

nathan ihnes

Peoria, Ill. Oct. 27, 2022 – PNC Private Bank today announced the appointment of Nathan Ihnes to vice president and senior fiduciary advisor. Based in Bloomington, Ihnes will help oversee fiduciary administration and new business development for PNC Private Bank in both the Central Illinois and St. Louis regions.

Ihnes comes to the role with nearly 20 years of experience in private banking, estate planning, investment and wealth management, and trust and fiduciary services. Most recently he served as in-house counsel, trust officer and wealth advisor for Heartland Bank and Trust Company.

“Nathan is an accomplished leader with deep expertise in wealth and fiduciary management,” said Brian Ray, PNC regional president for central Illinois. “His extensive connectivity to the region and record of success will allow us to further strengthen our existing client relationships and position us to advance PNC’s growth strategy in the region.”

Ihnes earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from Northern Illinois University. Previously he has served as treasurer of the McClean County Bar Association and Foundation, as a board member of the Advocate (Carle) BroMenn Philanthropy Council and the Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development.

miranda JOHNs-cummings

Ms. Johns-Cummings has accepted a new position as Fiduciary Advisor and Internal Legal Counsel for Heartland Bank and Trust Company. Her new contact information is listed below. Congratulations!!
Email: mljohnsc@hbtbank.com.
Phone: 309-444-8648
Mailing Address: 200 West College Avenue, Normal, IL 61761

john kim honored
by the mcca
[the minority corporate counsel association]

John Kim is Counsel at State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company where he is based out of the company’s home offices in Bloomington, Illinois, which is also his hometown. John provides strategic advice and counsel to business partners on labor, employment, and immigration matters across the enterprise and in support of State Farm’s mission to help customers manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.

At State Farm’s Law Department, John has led the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and spearheaded the department’s engagement with minority bar associations. He is active with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association where he is the immediate past president of the NAPABA Law Foundation. In 2020, the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago recognized John with its Vanguard Award.

John also led the Law Department’s Ethic and Professionalism Committee. Currently, he serves as the Vice-Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism, which promotes a culture of civility and inclusion among Illinois lawyers and judges.

As a good neighbor, John is an active participant in State Farm’s pro bono program and collaborates with state-wide and local providers. In partnership with The Immigration Project, John has organized immigration clinics, as well as provided direct legal services. John serves as Treasurer of Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., which provides access to justice to low-income, elderly, and vulnerable clients throughout central and northern Illinois. John is a long-time volunteer at the Community Health Care Clinic, a free and charitable medical and dental clinic in McLean County, Illinois, where he received the 2022 Commitment to Health Award.

Prior to joining State Farm, John engaged in private practice in central Illinois. He received his J.D. from the American University’s Washington College of Law and a B.A. from Wheaton College (IL). Before attending law school, John worked as a refugee and asylee caseworker in Nairobi, Kenya, and as a policy analyst for a faith-based organization in Washington, D.C.

new to your office?
​or maybe an attorney/staff 'on the move'?

If your office has new attorneys and staff, then we would like to update membership on your additions! Maybe you have an attorney making moves within your office. Please click on the link below to submit a little about the new addition and feel free to add a photo as well. 

​friday breakfast with the bar
join us this friday
8:00 am- 9:00 am

Shannon's Café - Downtown Bloomington
​

BLOOMINGTON CANNON ESTATE PLANNING
TELECONFERENCE SERIES PROGRAM
​HOSTED BY PNC WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Please contact​ Jennifer.julius@pnc.com if interested in attending.
If you have questions please call Jennifer at 309.655.5484

corporate law intership
summer 2023

career opportunities

​MCLEAN COUNTY
​ILLINOIS
Re-Posted - October 31

ASSISTANT public defender III

Heartland bank
Posted - October 10

PARALEGAL

prairie state legal services
Posted - September 26

many openings including bloomington


​mclean county
​illinois​
Posted - September 26

assistant state's attorney​

meyer capel, 
​a professional corporation
Posted - September 19

attorney
& staff positions

Kraft, Wood, & Kelly, LLC​
Posted - September 12

legal assistant​

office space available

ILLINOIS HOUSE BUILDING

Seven (7) single room offices and common conference room under construction.
Both ideal for a sole practitioner and assistant.
Call or text 309-531-0445  

updated August 2022

DOWNTOWN LAW OFFICE BUILDING
​FOR SALE

DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING
​FOR SALE OR LEASE
DOWNTOWN - ​BLOOMINGTON

bar committee activities

2022
​​​BOG Meeting - November 8 noon
Criminal Law Committee [CLC] Meeting - November 30 noon
​​​​​CLE Committee Meeting - November 22 noon
2023
Criminal Law Committee [CLC] Meeting - January 4 noon
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee [ADR] Meeting - Details Coming
Executive Committee 
President                            
​​Nathan B. Hinch

2nd VP
​John L. Pratt

Secretary
Spencer Chikahisa
1st VP
​Judge Pablo Eves

Immediate Past President
​Kathleen Kraft

Treasurer
Calli Farrell
Disclaimer:
The McLean County Bar Association (MCBA) presents the information on this web site as an information service to our members and other Internet users. While the information on this site is about legal issues, it is not legal advice. The information is not intended to create, and receipt of the information does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Those using this information should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel.
Board of Governors
Brendan Bukalski
Michael Butts
​Dean Davis
​Jaime Ganschow

Administrative Assistant
Mary Sellmyer

​Find a Lawyer Disclaimer:
The intention of the MCBA"Find a Lawyer"search is only to refer members of the public requiring legal services to members of the MCBA who have indicated that they wish to receive referrals in a particular area of the law.
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