​​​​​MCBA NEWSLETTER 

​april 28, 2025
MCBA Events 2025
April
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

​​Administrative Professional's Day
​a fun time!

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

mcba law day activities
wednesday, may 7 - luncheon

Registration will close on Wednesday, April 30

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.  

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

rules & administrative orders
for the 11th judicial circuit court

rules of the 
11th judicial circuit court
effective may 1, 2025

2-26 jury calendar administrative order

mortgage foreclosure mediation administrative order
circuit rule 110

judicial assignment administrative orders

11th judicial circuit court administrative order
​court holiday schedule for 2026

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! 

membership renewals 2025
​A Thank you!

Thank you to those who have renewed!

the 3rd thursday [most months]
​monthly social

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

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

bar committee activities


​​GAL 2025 Planning Committee Meeting - May 2 12.15 pm
​BOG Meeting - May 13 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - May 27noon
DEIA Committee Meeting - May 28 12.15 pm
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session - June 4

nargis khokhar

Costigan & Wollrab, P.C.
 
Takes pleasure in announcing that
 
NARGIS A. KHOKHAR
of GUARDIAN LAW, LLC.
 
is now Of Counsel with the Firm.
 
In addition to handling a variety of matters for the Firm,
Nargis will continue to perform work as a Guardian ad Litem
and Guardian through Guardian Law.
 
Please join us in extending our congratulations to Nargis
 
 
Serving the legal needs of McLean County since 1916
 
Costigan & Wollrab, P.C.
308 East Washington St.
Bloomington, Illinois
Phone: (309) 828-4310

jake fulk

Fulk Family Law LLC
104 S. Linden, Ste. B
Normal, IL 61761
309.459.3191

On May 1st, Jake Fulk is opening Fulk Family Law LLC at 104 South Linden, Ste. B in Normal. It will be a boutique focused on providing quality service to family law clientele. Jake wishes to add a note of appreciation to the Glenn and Cox families, and to Prairie State Legal Services, for their investment along the way in his employment and development as an attorney. He is further pleased to be able to share that paralegal Susan Jones and additional staff with family law experience will be joining this new firm.

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. 

continuing legal EDUCATION

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

mcba ​continuing legal EDUCATION
​2025

tuesday, may 20

more information to come

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
​
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.
​
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.
​
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

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

Ivy Lane Bakery - Downtown Bloomington
​

career opportunities 
&
law student opportunities

onward
injury
​law​
Posted April 21

spanish speaking legal assistant
​& attorney​

11th judicial circuit​
Closes May 8

associate judge​

state farm insurance
Closes May 11

in-house litigation counsel

Mclean COUNTY public defender

assistant public defender i, ii, iii

Mclean COUNTY state's attorney

assistant state's attorney i, ii, iii

livingston COUNTY public defender
​Open until filled

assistant public defender​
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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