​​​​​MCBA NEWSLETTER

​december 9, 2024
2024
December Events
12/10 (Tues.)
BOG Meeting

12/11 (Fri.)
CLE Luncheon at Law & Justice Center

12/13 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

12/19 (Thurs.)
Holiday Luncheon

12/20 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

12/27 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

MCBA Events 2025
January
1/3 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

1/10 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

1/13 (Mon.)
CLE Committee Meeting

1/14 (Tues.)
BOG Meeting

1/17 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

1/24 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

1/28 (Tues.)
CLE Luncheon at 2nd Presbyterian (please note the date change)

1/31 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

February 
2/7 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

2/12 (Wed.)
H.S. Mock Trials

2/14 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

2/21 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

2/28 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

March
3/5 (Wed.)
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session

April

May
Mental Health PR CLE Seminar for Members

5/1 (Thurs.)
Law Day Social Hour

5/7 (Wed.)
Law Day Luncheon

June
6/02 (Mon.)
Golf & Pickleball Event

6/4 (Wed.)
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session

9/3 (Wed.)
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session

July
​
August

September
9/26 (Fri.)
CIPA Annual Educational Seminar

October
10/22-23 (Wed. - Thurs.)
GAL Certification Seminar

November

December
12/3 (Wed.)
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session

membership renewals 2025

MCBA HOLIDAY LUNCHEON 
​​thursday, DECEMBER 19 - NOON

Please join the McLean County Bar Association for our annual holiday luncheon and Project Santa collection on Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 12.00 pm - 1:00 pm. at the Bloomington Country Club. 

project santa
MCLEAN COUNTY NURSING HOME RESIDENT ADOPTIONS

Thank you to those who have already adopted the Nursing home residents! Over half of the residents were adopted within the first few hours of opening this year. What an amazing and generous community we have here! Thank you! 
​
​Drop Off Logistics
There are four places for you to drop your gifts this year. 
​
Please plan to have your gift at either option 1 or 2 by Wednesday, December 18 at noon.
If you choose to attend the Holiday Luncheon, please bring your gifts by noon on Thursday, Dec. 19.

1. Directly to the McLean County Nursing Home - 8.00 am - 8.00 pm - 901 N Main - Normal
2. Wood, DeVary & Armstrong PC - 8.30 am - 5.00 pm - Illinois House, 207 W Jefferson - 4th Floor
3. Kraft, Wood & Kelly LLC - 8.30 am - 5.00 pm - Illinois House, 207 W Jefferson - 2nd Floor
4. Holiday Luncheon - December 19, noon - The Bloomington Country Club

caroling with the madrigals!
at the mclean county nursing home
monday, december 23 at 2:00 pm​

It is a long standing MCBA tradition to give both presents and presence to the McLean County Nursing Home residents during the holiday season.
 
On Monday, December 23rd MCBA member adoption gifts will be warmly received by the residents during their holiday party. MCBA Members have participated in this gathering in the past through caroling and visiting the residents. Everyone is welcome to attend and sing along again this year. This year we have a special offer to bring local high school singers to share their caroling skills with the residents. The University High [UHigh] Madrigal Singers will perform in medieval costume for the nursing home residents. They sing a variety of a capella Christmas standards, modern pop, and even songs in Latin. The 15 Madrigal Singers were selected by audition in the spring and have been practicing since July. 
 
The UHigh Madrigal Singers are seeking to raise funds to travel to New Orleans next year. Your donations, will assist with the UHigh Madrigals fund raising effort! The Madrigals fund raising goal is $1000.00 for this event. Your donations can be easily made through the link below. All money will go directly to the UHigh Madrigal Singers. The money raised will be applied toward the bus rental for the upcoming choir & orchestra trip to New Orleans. Your donation will lower the cost for all students. In New Orleans, the students will experience jazz and history tourism and have master classes at Tulane University.

Thank you for your consideration!

annual mediators association holiday party

Hosted by the Mediators Association
for 
Mediators, Family Bar Attorneys, & Judges

free

If interested in any piece, please contact Jim at: [email protected]
Each December, ISBA's Women & the Law Committee organizes a charity drive, which coincides with ISBA's Midyear Meeting. This year, the focus is on expanding access to books for children in underprivileged communities across Illinois through monetary and book donations. From now until Friday, 12/13, we are accepting donations of new or gently used children's books ages birth to six grade for four charities located across the State, including:
 
Bernie's Book Bank
  • Serving Chicagoland kids.
  • Accepts new and gently used children's books, ages birth through 6th grade.
  • Donate online. 
Look. It's My Book!
  • Serving schools in Peoria and Tazewell counties.
  • Accepts new books for K-4th grade children.
  • For online donations, add a note at checkout: “ISBA book drive”
United Way of Decatur & Mid Illinois - Dolly Parton Imagination Library
  • Serving underprivileged children from birth through age 5 in Macon, DeWitt, Piatt, & Shelby Counties.
  • Online donations only. Select Macon County Campaign. Add a donation note: “ISBA Book Drive”
Metro East Literacy Project
  • Serving Metro East kids.
  • Accepts culturally relevant children’s books.
  • Shop their Amazon wishlist or donate online and add message “ISBA Book Drive”

To learn more about the charities, click on the links in the attached flyer. If you plan to make a donation of either new or gently used children's books, please drop them off at Kelly & Castagna, 121 N. Main St., 3rd Floor, or send an email to [email protected] to arrange pick up. Monetary donations must be made online, just click on the hyperlinks in the flyer to donate.
 
On behalf of ISBA's WATL Service subcommittee, thank you for your time & anticipated support!   

save the dates
​2025

Tuesday, January 28 - State of the Circuit CLE
Wednesday, February 12 - High School Mock Trials & CLE Event
Wednesday, May 7 - Law Day Luncheon
Monday, June 2 - Golf & Pickleball Event
Friday, September 26 - 35th Annual CIPA Educational Seminar
Wednesday & Thursday, October 22 & 23 - GAL Certification Seminar

will search

Kevin Scott Bowman
​
If you have information on Mr. Bowmans will, please contact Deanne M. Hussemann at Costigan & Wollrab, P.C. Phone: (309) 828-4310 or Email: [email protected]

happenings in the 11th & beyond

​McLean County Family Treatment Court Awarded $750,000 from US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
​The McLean County Family Treatment Court, in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Carle BroMenn, The Center for Youth and Family Solutions, The Baby Fold and other community partners, has received a $750,000 federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to establish a family treatment court for court-involved adults in McLean County who are at risk of losing their children due to substance use issues
Illinois Courts help secure federal and private grants for rural communities
​The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts announced that the Putnam, Marshall, Stark County Probation District was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Foundation for Rural Services-Community Service Grants Program. 
Illinois Lawyers: Give Back This Season While Earning 6 Hours of CLE
The holiday season is a time to give thanks for the important things in your life. Loved ones, good health, and a safe home are commonly on Thankful Lists, as is a meaningful career. Think back to the beginning of your career. What stands out? Many may cite endless hours of legal research, document review, and brief writing. While these are all essential tasks, they are not necessarily exciting or the reason you became a lawyer. Now consider where you are today. How did you get there? 
​Crafting Influence: The Role of Language and AI in Legal Advocacy
Lawyers make their living with words. They employ their tool of the trade by carefully crafting what is said in the courtroom and on paper, from a jury trial to a real estate contract. A good lawyer also knows that words that may work wonderfully before a jury could backfire in a brief as inappropriate exaggeration or attempted emotional influence. As lawyers, we must know our audience. So just how powerful are words in shaping perception and future action? We can turn to quantum theory, of all places, to better understand their impact.
Retirement!
​

Jim Ginzkey

effective December 31, 2024

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. 

MCBA SCHOLARSHIP

The recipient[s] will be announced at the Holiday Luncheon on Thursday, December 19th.

​continuing legal EDUCATION
​2024

CLE - live webinar

Wednesday, January 29, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
​​
Supreme Court of Illinois Judicial College 
Guardian ad Litem Education Committee
Presents:
​
Ethics in Allocation of Parental Rights Cases

Up to 1.5 hours PR Eithis CLE

Target Audience:
​​
➢ Judges
➢Guardians ad Litem
➢ Child Representatives

Ethics in representing children present unique issues for practitioners. Not only will attorneys review the legal fundamentals of representing children, but they will also be able to work through common ethical issues with the guidance of experts in the field. Discussions about consents for release of information, re-releasing of information and discussion about HIPAA privacy issues will be included.
​
If you are registering for the first time, “Sign-Up” and create an account. Next. click on Events to locate this live webcast. If you are a returning user, click Link above and “Sign-In, search “Featured Events” to locate this live webcast. 

Technical questions? (888) 705-6002 or [email protected]
Non-Technical questions? [email protected]

​Google Chrome browser preferred
CLE
​
Wednesday, December 11
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
​​
Felony Sentencing Alternatives

Up to 1.5 hours general CLE
[Pending Approval] 
​
Get the information you need regarding sentencing alternatives to incarceration with this online seminar. Criminal justice attorneys, traffic law practitioners, and corrections/sentencing lawyers with all levels of practice experience who attend this program will learn more about Illinois’ problem-solving courts, various special probations. Participants will also learn the McLean County Specialty Court (Drug Court, Recovery Court, Veteran’s Court) process from referral to sentencing.

​Participants will also get an introduction to the new Office of Statewide Pretrial Services (OSPS), the changes in local pretrial supervision, and the new screening tool used for pretrial release hearings.

​The cost is $20.00 per attendee which includes 1.5 hours of CLE and a light lunch.
 
Presented by: 
​
Judge David Butler (Ret.)
Kristine Honiotes JD
Ron Lewis JD

Topics Include:
 
Drug Court Probation
Recovery Court Probation
Veteran’s Court Probation
First Offender Probation
Second Chance Probation
TASC Probation
First Time Weapon Offense Program
Child Abandonment or Endangerment Probation
Impact Incarceration
The Drug Court Process

cle recording opportunities

CLE
Originally Recorded
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
​
​IRS Taxes Discharged in Bankruptcy

Presented by: Robert Schaller, JD

​[Up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved] 
​
You can become the client’s hero by eliminating IRS back taxes. Learn how to spot opportunities for IRS tax resolution. The focus of the seminar is how to eliminate IRS back taxes thru bankruptcy. The presentation will discuss Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 basics and the bankruptcy adversary proceeding process.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to spot IRS tax resolution opportunities.
2. Learn how to eliminate IRS back taxes thru bankruptcy.
3. Learn Bankruptcy Code basics: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 and adversary proceedings.
​
CLE
Originally Recorded
​Tuesday, July 16, 2024
​
Traffic Stops & Motor Vehicles Searches

Presented by: Hon. David Butler (Ret.) & Matthew Butler

​[up to 1.5 hours general CLE - Approved] 
RECORDING ENDS June 25, 2026
​
Evidence of a crime is often found by police during the search of a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Items found during the search may be illegal contraband, such as drugs or weapons, or evidence of another crime. What starts out as a minor traffic violation can turn into a search of the vehicle to investigate evidence of crimes unrelated to the traffic stop. This CLE program presents an examination of the various legal bases for the police to conduct a motor vehicle search and the possible legal challenges to the search. Attorneys who either defend or prosecute criminal cases involving the possession of contraband will be better able to recognize evidentiary issues related to criminal charges arising out of traffic stops and motor vehicle searches.
 
TOPICS TO BE COVERED ARE:
 
Lawful basis of traffic stops
“Out of the Car”  Drivers and Passengers 
Search of Persons in the Vehicle
Search of Vehicles
Probable Cause Searches
Dog Sniffs
Odor of Cannabis
Search Incident to Arrest
Parole Searches
Inventory Searches
Consent Searches
Motions To Suppress Evidence
CLE
Originally Recorded
​Tuesday, February 20, 2024
​
​CYBER RISK & CYBER LIABILITY INSURANCE

presented by
Scott Dunton & Adam Czerwinski

​[up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved] 
RECORDING ENDS February 15, 2026
​
This CLE will provide a basic understanding of the cyber risks facing law firms and why firms must care. Real-life examples will be shared. Attendees will leave this course with a better understanding on how to mitigate your firm's cyber risk and avoid cyber losses. 
Below are comments shared from attendees evaluations...
It was an excellent presentation highlighting pitfalls for the unwary.

With ISBA insurance withdrawing their cybersecurity coverage, I will need to look into other insurance. This presentation assisted in learning areas of inquiry when looking for this kind of insurance.
CLE
Originally Recorded
​Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Filing & Defending Civil Pre-Trial Motions
presented by
​Hon. David Butler, Ret and Thomas McClure, JD

[up to 1.5 hours general CLE - Approved]
RECORDING ENDS August 30, 2025
​
Many civil lawsuits are won or lost without a trial. This CLE program presents an in-depth examination of pre-trial motion practice. Some critical aspects of pre-trial Motions To Dismiss and Motions For Summary Judgment will be discussed. This program will help attorneys to recognize various legal bases for the dismissal of a civil lawsuit filed against their client. In addition, learn how to respond to Motions To Dismiss and Motions For Summary Judgment.
 
Topics to be covered are:
Motions To Dismiss Based on the Pleadings (Sec. 2-615 Motions)
Involuntary Dismissals Based on Certain Defects or Defenses (Sec. 2-619 Motions)
Motions For Summary Judgment
Pre-Trail Motions in Small Claims Cases
Below are comments shared from attendees evaluations...
Clearly very knowledgeable & did a great job reviewing these litigation basics.

Thank you for providing so much substantive material.

Both Presenters are knowledgeable, engaging, and good at explaining concepts.

​What is one of your take aways? What did you learn today?
* Clearer difference between types of motions
* Best practices for Affidavits
CLE
Originally Recorded
​December 6, 2022

Ethics Rules Every Lawyer Must Know
presented by
​Hon. David Butler, Ret and Hon. Thomas Funk

[up to 1 hour PR - Ethics - CLE Credit Approved]

recording extended end date: december 5, 2024 

Please join the McLean County Bar Association in welcoming Judge Butler (Ret.) and Logan County Judge Funk. 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. 
​
Below are comments shared from attendees evaluations...
Both presented the material very well.

I appreciated the commentary and use of examples that they used during their presentations.

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

Ivy Lane Bakery - Downtown Bloomington
​

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

Please contact​ [email protected] if interested in attending.
If you have questions please call Jennifer at 309.655.5476 ​

career opportunities

livingston COUNTY 
Posted - December 9

gal for minors in juvenile cases

Mclean COUNTY public defender
Posted - November 25

assistant public defender i & ii

Mclean COUNTY state's attorney
​Posted - November 25

assistant state's attorney i, ii, iii

livingston COUNTY public defender
Posted - November 18
​Open until filled

assistant public defender​

peoria COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
Posted - November 18
​Ends - January 2025 if not filled

criminal defense attorney

office space available

bar committee activities

​2024
​BOG Meeting - December 10 noon
​2025
Law Day Committee Meeting - January 7 12.15 pm
CLE Committee Meeting - January 13 noon
GAL 2025 Planning Committee Meeting - January 31 12.15 pm
DEIA Committee Meeting - February 26 12.15 pm
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session - March 5
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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