MCLEAN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
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​​​MCBA NEWSLETTER

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  ​november 15,
 2021   


November Events
11/19/21 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar


11/25/21 (Thurs.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

11/26/21 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

December Events
12/21/21 (Tues.)
Holiday Luncheon

12/24/21 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

12/27/21 (Mon.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

12/31/21 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

2022 Calendar Coming Soon

​COURT NOTES

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​November 12 2021
​
To:  The McLean County Bar Association:
 
It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is upon us with the December holidays waiting in the wings.  Sometimes it feels like the last twenty months or so has been an eternity while other times it seems like it was just yesterday our lives were completely upended by the pandemic.  Regardless, the Courts continue to push forward, and I am again pleased to report that court operations are fully functional with both civil and criminal jury and bench trials being conducted with many dockets operating with a mix of in-person and remote hearings.
We recently published the 2022 Judicial Assignments by way of Administrative Order 2021-28 effective January 1, 2022 along with a cover letter laying out the highlights. We believe these changes will allow us to handle the dockets more efficiently while down a Judge for most of 2022. Please see the links below on the published assignments.

We want to congratulate Judge Paul Lawrence on his December 31, 2021 retirement and wish him and his family the best in their next chapter(s). Judge Lawrence has been a guiding light within the legal community and his absence from the Judiciary will be greatly missed. 

On the Covid-19 front, we await guidance from the Illinois Supreme Court on Courthouse mandates relating to facial coverings and social distancing with the hope that it will allow us to relax both soon. So long as the Supreme Court’s Order remains in place, we must follow it.

As always, on behalf of the entire Judiciary, we thank you for your continued patience and understanding and wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!  Should you have any questions or concerns on court operations, please contact Trial Court Administrator William Scanlon at (309) 888-5266.
 
Best regards.
Chief Judge Mark A. Fellheimer
Link to AO 2021-28 McLean County
Link to AO 2021-29 Livingston County
Letter to MCBA
Weekly Courtroom Grid 10-2021 with phone numbers

a thank you!


"The program was amazing. This was far more than a 'check the box' type of training for recertification. Almost all the information presented was practical and useful."

​"Huge thanks to the GAL Committee.
It takes a lot of work to put together something like this, and it was fantastic. I appreciate you working so hard to create an 'in-person' training for us!"

“The local bar did everything possible to be outstanding hosts
and make the experience something to remember.”
 
“I enjoyed seeing the McLean County Bar Association collaborate.
​It appears that McLean County is quite an enjoyable place to practice law.”

These are just a few of the rave reviews by some of the attendees of the Guardian Ad Litem Recertification Conference on 10/27 & 10/28 planned and executed by our GAL Committee. On behalf of the McLean County Bar Association, I would like to expressly thank each and every person on the committee for their tremendous work and dedication to make this event successful. The room was full with attendees representing 10 different circuits and 20 counties. We should all be proud to be able to sponsor such a successful event and the impression it has left on its attendees. 
Sincerely, Julia Davis, President
​

THANK YOU TO THE MCBA GAL COMMITTEE:
​

Tristan Bullington
Nichole Byers, paralegal
Judge Sarah Duffy
Michael Fenger

Jake Fulk
Stephanie Hall

Judge Amy McFarland
Todd Miller
Todd Roseberry
Alice Smalley
Candice Thomason


2022 Member applicaiton

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Please click on the MCBA button above to renew.

attorneys & staff on the move


Marinna Metoyer is making a move to Livingston County beginning December 1. Her new role will be Chief Public Defender for Livingston County. She will represent clients inside of the Felony Court-Room and be a member of the Drug Court Team.
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Marinna graduated from De Paul University Law School in Chicago; and obtained her license to practice law in Illinois shortly thereafter.
 
A year after graduating from Law School, Marinna joined the U.S. Air Force. It was her Air Force experience as a Judge Advocate (JAG), that she gained her initial experience practicing criminal law.

She most recently rejoined the McLean County Public Defender Office as an Assistant Public Defender in 2015. 

We have a new employee at Kraft, Wood, & Kelly, LLC. Christine Krueger is Gina Wood's new legal assistant. And congratulations to Betsy Petri who is now a paralegal for the firm!

new to your office?

If your office has new attorneys and staff, then we would like to update membership on your additions! Please click on the link below to submit a little about the new addition and feel free to add a photo as well. 
New to My Office!

sexual harassment prevention training program

annual training reminder​

Information on Workplace Transparency

online arbitration competition
seeking volunteer judges

November 19 & 20
More Information HERE

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Project Santa
Adopt a McLean County Nursing Home Resident

A gift of Ice Cream

The McLean County Nursing Home residents love soft serve ice cream. They will be so happy if Santa brings them a soft serve machine they can enjoy all year. The estimated cost for a new machine is $1500. We have already raised $500 and a very generous elf has offered to match all additional gifts up to $500. Please make this wish come true by considering a contribution.
​
More information to come on how to contribute to the soft serve ice cream machine. 
​
Adopt Here - only a few folks left!

volunteers needed


​PRO BONO - ROTATION ​ATTORNEY(s)

​We are looking for several attorneys to volunteer to take on pro bono cases, similar to Prairie State Legal Services, but for people with whom Prairie State cannot assist due to a conflict of interest.
More Information


brand new attorneys!

Lewis Liu - SAO
Nicole Mannen - PD
Taylor Williams - Kraft, Wood & Kelly, LLC

​

congratulations!

On Wednesday, November 10, there were 1,269 candidates who took the attorney oath. A majority of those candidates were virtually sworn into their new role. Chief Justice Anne M. Burke spoke of Audi Alteram Partem which is Latin for 'Hear the other side.' There were 48 folks from the Fourth District. There were three local attorneys involved in this program. Please see photos of this virtual event below. If you know another new attorney and would like to share their information, please do so at this LINK. 
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Mr. Lewis Liu
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Taylor Williams taking her virtual oath. 
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Taylor shown with her very proud parents!​
November Bar Ceremony Program
ISBA Article

new attorney resources

Are You a New Illinois Lawyer? Kickstart Your Career With Mentoring!

On Wednesday, the Illinois Supreme Court swore in 1,269 new attorneys during a virtual bar admissions ceremony. These lawyers join the almost 95,000 attorneys who are registered to practice in Illinois. If you were sworn in, or just happened to watch the ceremony, you heard Chief Justice Anne M. Burke and Justice David K. Overstreet discuss the importance of mentoring in laying the foundation for a successful legal career. The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism’s attorney mentoring program was launched in 2011 to do just that. 
Full Article by Laura Bagby

The McLean County Bar Association has two local attorneys who can help you connect with the program above. Jaime Ganschow and Angela Skinner, Committee Co-Chairs, would welcome your questions.

ATTENTION
​ATTORNEY'S & STAFF

Please be sure to check your folder at the Clerk’s office! 

holiday luncheon
tuesday - december 21

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21 12:00 - 1:00 PM
​BLOOMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB
CLICK ON THE HAPPY HOLIDAYS ABOVE TO REGISTER.


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about the painting
order your copy here

Law and McLean County: A 175 Year Partnership

Each print is individually numbered and signed by the artist, Randy Souders.
Each print measures 22”X28”       The cost of each print is $75.

cle - recorded OPPORTUNITY

1 HOUR CLE [approved]
RECORDING AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2021
recording CLE credit process

protecting your client's medicare benefits

Many thanks to our own John Muir, JD and Mr. Craig Pawley who presented this original CLE on August 24, 2021. The CLE presentation covered settling cases with a Medicare beneficiary and understanding the Medicare Secondary Payer Statue. This session also covered addressing Medicare liens, Medicare Set Asides, and how to administer those funds while adhering to the CMS guidelines. 

CLE - RECORDED OPPORTUNITY

1 HOUR CLE [approved]
RECORDING AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2021
Recording CLE Credit Process

adoption cases from start to finish

Please join the McLean County Bar Association in thanking the panel of presenters, Hon. Donald Bernardi Circuit Judge (Retd.), Hon. J. Brian Goldrick, Julia Davis, JD and Kathleen M. Kraft, JD. The presenters walked through the steps required for private and foster-care conversion adoptions. The presenters covered petition requirements, notice requirements, termination, hearings, and judgments.  ​

​friday breakfast with the bar
join us this friday

8:00 am- 9:00 am

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Downtown Bloomington

mark your calendar
​2021 & 2022

2022
January 18 - CLE State of the Circuit
February 15 - CLE Social Security 
February 23 - Bench/Bar Listening Session 12.05 pm
March 15 - CLE Orders of Protections  [up to 2 hours of CLE]
April 19 - PR CLE Underwood Committee Professionalism Program
May 17 - CLE Drone Law Update

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

2021 Schedule
Please contact​ Jennifer.julius@pnc.com if interested in attending.
If you have questions please call Jennifer at 309.655.5484

career opportunities


livingston, barger, brandt & schroeder, llp

seeks
Details
posted 11-15-2021

LEGAL ASSISTANT



​prairie state legal services
​

seeks
A2J Staff Attorney
​and
Staff Atty-Homeowners
posted 11-15-2021

A2J attorney-peoria ​

and

staff ATTORNEY-
waukegan


law offices of thomas j. pliura ​

​seeks
Details
posted 11-15-2021

full time
PARALEGAL 
 ​


us court of appeals
​7th circuit
​

seeks
Details
short deadline 11-16-2021

federal pd in southern il district ​


williams & swee, ltd

seeks
Details
posted 11-01-2021


​ATTORNEY
 
​


craig queen law

seeks
Details
posted 11-01-2021

to share part time assistant


mclean county state's attorney office


​seeks
Details
Closes 11-07-2021 


​assistant states attorney i


abbey, adams, byelick & mueller, llp​


​seeks
details
11-15-2021



attorney 
​



​ronda
glenn

​law offices

seeks
Associate Attorney
and
Paralegal/Legal Assitant
11-1-2021

associate attorney 

and

paralegal / legal assistant


office space available


ILLINOIS HOUSE BUILDING
Quality Office Space at Affordable Rents
Two Blocks Directly North of Law & Justice Center
Call or text 309-531-0445
Through December 2021

DOWNTOWN LAW OFFICE BUILDING
​FOR SALE

105 N. Center Street - Bloomington   UPDATED FLYER
Through December 2021

DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING
​FOR SALE OR LEASE

DOWNTOWN - ​BLOOMINGTON
210 S. East Street - Bloomington
Through December 2021

bar committee activities

2021
​​​​CLE Committee Meeting - November 30 noon
​​​BOG Meeting - December 14 noon 
​MCBA Foundation - December 16 noon

Executive Committee 
President                            
​Judge Pablo Eves

2nd VP
Adrian Barr

Secretary
Paige Thielen
1st VP
​John L. Pratt

Immediate Past President
​​Nathan B. Hinch

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
Michael Butts [Year 4]
​Dean Davis [Year 3]
​Jaime Ganschow [Year 2]
Laurel Bingaman [Year 1]

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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  • MCBA Home
  • Newsletters
  • Find a Lawyer
  • 2025 Member Ap
  • About
  • Contact
  • MCBA Committees
    • 2024 MCBA Scholarship
  • MCBA Documents
  • Past Events
  • Resources
    • Forms-McLean
  • Career Opportunities
  • LAP Eleventh Judicial Assistance Attorneys
  • Product
  • Blog