​​​​​MCBA NEWSLETTER 

​april 21, 2025

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MCBA Events 2025
April
4/22 (Tues.)
CLE Committee Meeting

4/23 (Wed.)
Administrative Professionals' Day Social Hour at Crawfords - Please plan to attend!

4/25 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar
GAL Certification Committee Meeting

4/30 (Wed.)
Women in Law - A Networking Opportunity

May
5/2 (Fri.) 
Breakfast with the Bar

5/7 (Wed.)
Law Day Luncheon

5/9 (Fri.) 
Breakfast with the Bar

5/13 (Tues.)
BOG Meeting

5/16 (Fri.) 
Breakfast with the Bar

5/15 (Thurs.)
3rd Thursday Social

5/23 (Fri.) 
Breakfast with the Bar

5/28 (Wed.)
​DEIA Committee Meeting

5/30 (Fri.) 
Breakfast with the Bar

June
6/2 (Mon.)
Golf & Pickleball Event

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

6/19 (Thurs.)
3rd Thursday Social

6/26 (Thurs.)
Annual Meeting

July
​
August

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

9/26 (Fri.)
CIPA Annual Educational Seminar - CLE Event

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

November
11/6 (Thurs.)
Annual Behavioral Health Forum - CLE Event

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

12/17 (Wed.)
Holiday Luncheon

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​Complete 2025 List of Court Holidays & Closures

​Complete 2026 List of Court Holidays & Closures

2025 Jury Calendar

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bloomington community engagement unit
presented by Sergeant Kiel Nowers, bpd

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law Day social hour update

Law Day is meant to reflect upon the role of the legal system in the foundation of the country and recognize its importance for society. An opportunity for us to recognize members of our bar for their contributions to our community and for their legal service. But none of us would be able to provide the services we do to our clients without our administrative staff. So in lieu of a Law Day Happy Hour this year, we ask that you please attend the Administrative Professional’s Day social on Wednesday, April 23rd and to bring your staff so their contributions can be recognized and appreciated.

​​Celebrate Administrative Professional's Day
​with the MCBA!

Administrative Professional
(noun)
1. A person who solves problems you can’t.
2. One who does precison guess work based on unreliable data 
​provided by those of questionable knowledge.

see also: wizard, magician
​

Join MCBA in recognizing the hard work and dedication of the administrative professionals that make us all look like we know what we’re doing! We're hosting a casual and fun gathering at Crawford’s Corner Pub on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

MCBA members are encouraged to bring their staff for an evening of appreciation, good company, and refreshments. Each attendee will receive two drink tickets, courtesy of MCBA, and we may have some food items available depending on the final budget (fingers crossed!).

Come raise a glass, unwind, and celebrate the amazing administrative professionals who keep everything running smoothly. Feel free to stay beyond 6:00 PM and keep the fun going!

​We hope to see you there!

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​The Constitution's Promise: Out of Many, One

mcba law day activities
wednesday, may 7 - luncheon

Registration & Information

Registration will close on Tuesday, April 29.

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sangamon county bar association
law day celebration
may 1
an inviation to you

Registration Information

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women in law happening
​a networking opportunity

The event will be April 30, 5-7 pm Illinois Wesleyan University, Hansen Student Center, 300 E. Beecher Street, Bloomington and provide an opportunity for networking between local female high school students and our fabulous female lawyer community.  

More Information & Registration

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family law bar judicial changes
​beginning may 5

Effective May 5, 2025, there will be courtroom changes in the family and civil divisions as follows:

• Judge Eves will be in courtroom 3C except for Thursday afternoons when he will be in courtroom 3E. 
• Judge Kording will be in courtroom 3E except for Thursday afternoons when he will be in courtroom 3C for Drug Court.
• Judge Duffy will no longer switch courtrooms with Judge Eves on Thursday mornings.

 
NOTE: The courtroom changes will result in a change to the Zoom courtrooms.  The McLean County Remote Hearings webpage will be updated effective May 5, 2025, so please make sure to update your Notice of Hearing forms.
 
The Zoom courtrooms will be as follows and will remain the same on Thursday afternoons:

• Eves (3C): https://zoom.us/j/3796580063
• Kording (3E): https://zoom.us/j/4461435351

 
You may contact Charlotte Cramer at 309-888-5215 to schedule hearings for both Judges Eves and Kording, effective May 5. 

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mortgage foreclosure mediation administrative order
circuit rule 110

AO 2025 -11 Suspending the Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation - 11th Circuit Rule 110

judicial assignment administrative orders

AO 2025 -07 Logan Co

AO 2025 -08 Woodford Co

AO 2025 -09 McLean Co

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mcba softball
​summer 2025

Join in the fun! If you are interested in playing and / or cheering!
​Please watch the newsletter for more details to come! 

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membership renewals 2025
​A Thank you!

Thank you to those who have renewed!

Membership Renewal Application

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the 3rd thursday [most months]
​monthly social

WEDNESDAY - April 23
Administrative Professionals' Day
@ Crawfords 4pm-6pm

May 15 - Gill Street
June 19 - Rice N Spice
July 17 - Crafted
August 21 - Mystic Kitchen
September 18 - Fiala Brothers
October 16 - Reality Bites
November 20 - The Station Saloon
December - No Social Planned

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save the dates
​2025

For all CLE dates and information, please see the CLE section below.

Wednesday, May 7 - Law Day Luncheon
DoubleTree by Hilton
Featured Speaker is Keesha-Lu Mitra
​Senior Vice President & General Counsel at State Farm
​
Monday, June 2 - Golf & Pickleball Event

​Thursday, June 26 - Annual Meeting
​
Tuesday, July 15 - CLE A case review from the bench
Friday, September 26 - 35th Annual CIPA Educational Seminar
Wednesday, October 1 - Criminal Law Update
Wednesday & Thursday, October 22 & 23 - GAL Certification Seminar
Thursday, November 6 - 8th Annual Behavioral Health Forum - ISU
​Wednesday, December 17 - Holiday Luncheon - BCC

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bar committee activities

CLE Committee Meeting - April 22 noon
​​GAL 2025 Planning Committee Meeting - April 25 12.15 pm
​BOG Meeting - May 13 noon
DEIA Committee Meeting - May 28 12.15 pm
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session - June 4

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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. 

New to My Office? or Retiring? or Moving? Any Update!

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continuing legal EDUCATION

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a pilot program
from the illinois supreme court
earn cle for pro bono
​through 
​illinois free legal answers

Supreme Court Announcement

Pilot Program Article

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thursday, april 24

2025 Future is now: legal services conference

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism's Future Is Now: Legal Services conference is one of the nation’s premier legal professionalism events. 

The 2025 event will focus on topics including: 

• Identifying and coping with vicarious trauma as a lawyer
• Practical use cases for leveraging generative AI throughout the client’s journey
• Recognizing and responding to bullying behavior in legal workplaces
• Strategies for understanding and embracing generational differences in the legal profession
• How focusing on client-centered lawyering and soft skills benefits law firms 

​
Please visit our website to review our speakers. Questions? Reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Attendees are eligible for 4.0 hours of professional responsibility CLE credit in Illinois, including 1.0 hour of diversity and inclusion credit and 1.0 hour of mental health and substance abuse credit. 

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mcba ​continuing legal EDUCATION
​2025

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cle recording opportunities

CLE
Originally Recorded
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
​Ends, March 1, 2027

Small Law Office Efficiency - AI

Presented by: Drew Vaughn

​[Up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved] 

Please join the McLean County Bar Association in welcoming Mr. Drew Vaughn. He will be teaching about how Artificial Intelligence works, the ethical implications of its use, and practical applications of Artificial Intelligence that you can implement today.  

Learning Objectives:
1. Foundations of Artificial Intelligence [A.I.]
2. Ethical Implications of the use of AI
3. Practical AI Application
​

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

CLE
Originally Recorded
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
​Ends, August 1, 2026
​
​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.
​

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

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

The cost is $20.00.
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Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

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. 

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

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

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

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

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

Ivy Lane Bakery - Downtown Bloomington
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career opportunities 
&
law student opportunities

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onward
injury
​law​

Assistant Information

Attorney Information

Posted April 21

spanish speaking legal assistant
​& attorney​

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11th judicial circuit​

Information

Closes May 8

associate judge​

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state farm insurance

Information

Closes May 11

in-house litigation counsel

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Mclean COUNTY public defender

Information APD I

Information APD II

Information APD III

assistant public defender i, ii, iii

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Mclean COUNTY state's attorney

Information

assistant state's attorney i, ii, iii

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livingston COUNTY public defender

Information

​Open until filled

assistant public defender​

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