​MCBA NEWSLETTER 

​july 20, 2026

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​MCBA Events 2026
July
7/21 (Tues.)
​CLE

7/24 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

7/31 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

August
8/7 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

8/14 (Fri.)
​​​GAL Certification Planning Committee Meeting
Breakfast with the Bar

8/18 (Tues.)
CLE 

8/21 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

8/28 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

September
9/15 (Tues.)
CLE 

October
8/18 (Tues.)
CLE 

November
11/3 (Tues.)
Law & Justice Center Closed 

December
12/10 (Thurs.)
Holiday Luncheon

2027 Events
June 27 (Thurs.)
Annual Meeting

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​Complete 2026 List of Court Holidays & Closures

2026 Jury Calendar

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mcba cle opportunities

​know what the judges know!
cle ​

Tuesday, July 21, 2026
​
​​

Interpreting a Tax Return in Family Law Cases
​
[Up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved]

Please join the McLean County Bar Association in welcoming Hon. Sarah Duffy. 

This course will provide a foundational overview of income tax returns and enable family law attorneys to quickly identify relevant information. The learning objectives are: (1) analyze individual income tax returns and corresponding schedules and (2) identify sections of individual income tax returns important in family law cases.

Lunch - Bandana's Bar-B-Q.​

Registration

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save the date

Reception for the Women Lawyers of the 11th Judicial Circuit
September 16, 2026
5-7 p.m.
More details coming soon

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prairie state legal services

PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES - Pro bono attorney needed:
We have a client needing assistance with a McLean County divorce with children and no property.  Support and maintenance were already ordered in a F case and the client does not know where spouse is but our private investigator found two possible addresses, one in STREAMWOOD, IL and the other in MORENO VALLEY, CA. 
​
If you are willing to take this case, please contact Stacy James at [email protected] .

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***PRESS RELEASE***

​Great Plains LIFE Foundation
“Keeping Kids in School . . .”
456 Wylie Drive, Normal, IL 61761 Phone: 309-828-3406
​
Paul Segobiano                                Email: [email protected]                            Liz Skinner
Director of Development                                                                         Director of Public Relations

​June 23, 2026 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

​To Represent McLean County Bar Association at
Great Plains LIFE Foundation
​
‘20 Stars for LIFE’

Calli Farrell, State Farm Attorney, will be representing McLean County Bar Association at the Great Plains LIFE Foundation’s annual 20 Stars for LIFE to be held on Thursday evening, July 16th, at the Parke Regency Hotel in Bloomington. The event is open to the public and tickets may be purchased online or from any of the stars. Admission includes a buffet from Outback Steakhouse, beverages, and dancing.

In addition to Ms. Farrell, the 2026 Galaxy of Stars includes: Joe Adelman – McLean County Unit School District #5, Jon Albee – McLean County Sheriff’s Department, Molly Allen – Regional Office of Education #17, Sgt. Jared Bierbaum – City of Bloomington, Melissa Blaum – Unit Five Education Association, Rhendy Bradshaw – RE/MAX Rising, Kurt Busse – McLean County Athletic Directors, Vincent Hobart – Heartland Community College, Tim Jorczak – McLean County Government, Brian Kiley – Livingston/McLean Building & Trades, Sarah Morgan – The Pass Pub & Grill, Zach Quinn – LPL Financial, Julie Riley – Bloomington Education Association, Lucas Salvator – LS Mechanical, Mark Smith – AFM, Professional Farm Manager, Katie Thomas – Bloomington School District #87, Phil West – Illinois State University, Justin Whitefoot – Chick-Fil-A, Brent Williams – Great Plains Laborers’ District Council.
 
Major sponsors for the evening are: Cloud Nine Bridal Boutique, Lamar Advertising, LiUNA Midwest Region, Office Depot, Outback Steakhouse, Parke Regency Hotel, The Pantagraph, Tony Jones Media, and Vrooman Mansion.
​
All Proceeds will benefit the “Stay 4” Project©; a local initiative designed to address the high school drop-out crisis and help low-income students that demonstrate the ability to succeed, yet are at risk for dropping out.
​
For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.stay4.org or call (309) 828-3406.

​***PRESS RELEASE***

Support LINK

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​bar committee activities

​CLE Committee Meeting - July 28 noon
​​DEIA Committee Meeting - July 29 noon
BOG Meeting - August 11 noon
​​​GAL Certification Planning Committee Meeting - August 14 12.15 pm
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session - September 2

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attorneys on the move

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matthew j. blaney

Dunn Law Firm, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Matthew J. Blaney as an Associate Attorney in our trust and estate planning, tax, real estate, and civil litigation practices.

A Bloomington native, Matthew returns home after earning his undergraduate degree from Benedictine College and his J.D. from Washington University School of Law.  Prior to joining our firm, Matthew practiced as a federal tax controversy and litigation attorney in the Chicago area, representing clients in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service.  His work included IRS audits on complex substantive tax issues, appeals before the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, settlement negotiations, and litigation in the United States Tax Court and federal district court. 
 
Matthew's litigation background in tax law brings a uniquely sharp perspective to transactional and planning work. At Dunn Law Firm, LLP, Matthew will serve clients in Illinois with the perspective and experience he gained at an international law firm.  He will work directly with clients on matters ranging from straightforward will and trust-based estate plans to complex business transactions and disputes. Our clients will benefit from his ability to structure sound solutions and advocate effectively on their behalf.
 
We are delighted to welcome Matthew back to the area and look forward to the contributions he will make to our firm and to the Bloomington-Normal community.

Matthew J. Blaney
Dunn Law Firm, LLP
1001 N Main St, Ste A
Bloomington, IL  61701
Phone:  ​309.828.6241
​​Email:  [email protected]

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ryan ash

Ryan has joined the Williams & Swee Ltd. law firm. His focus is now Social Security Disability. Please see his new contact information below. 

Ryan Ash
Williams & Swee Ltd.
2011 Fox Creek Rd
Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: 309.827.4371
​​Email:  [email protected]

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matthew koetters

For more than twenty years, Matthew Koetters has dedicated his career to standing beside people at some of the most difficult moments of their lives. His work with the McLean County Public Defender’s Office — including five years as First Assistant — shaped his belief that strong advocacy, fairness, and compassion are essential parts of justice.


After two decades of public defense work, Matthew recently joined Bruno Law Offices, where he continues to focus on criminal defense. The move allows him to bring his courtroom experience, motion practice, and client-centered approach to a new setting while continuing to serve the people of Central Illinois.


Matthew has lived in Bloomington–Normal since 2006, where he and his wife are raising their family. Outside the courtroom, he can usually be found at a ball field, a church event, or volunteering with local organizations. He considers it a privilege to serve a community that has supported him both professionally and personally.

Matthew Koetters
Bruno Law Offices LLC
​216 E. Grove St. Ste. 2207
Bloomington, IL  61701
Phone:  309.449.4900
​Email: [email protected]

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samantha m. vazquez

The City of Bloomington is pleased to announce that attorney Samantha M. Vazquez has joined the legal department as Associate Corporation Counsel.

Associate Corporation Counsel
115 E. Washington St.
Suite 403
Bloomington, IL 61701
Email: [email protected]

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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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mcba cle recorded opportunities

cle​

Originally Recorded
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
​Ends, March 1, 2028
​​

Sentencing Credit in Illinois Criminal Cases
​
[Up to 1.5 hours general CLE - Approved]
​

Please join the McLean County Bar Association in welcoming Jackie Mathias-Jail R.E.S.E.T. (Recovery, Education, Support and reEntry Team) Director McLean County Jail and Hon. David Butler [Ret.]-Special Assistant Public Defender for McLean County.
 
This program will provide a guide of the credits that may be applied to reduce a criminal sentence.  The amount of time served on a criminal sentence may be significantly reduced by various forms of sentence credit available under Illinois law.  Attorneys should be familiar with the credits that may be applied to a sentence when negotiating a plea agreement or deciding on whether to go to trial.  Both defense attorneys and prosecutors will gain an awareness of the sentence credits that are possible for particular sentences.
 
Specific Topics Include:
Statutory Good Time Credit
Illinois Truth in Sentencing Act
Minimum Sentences
Periodic Imprisonment
County Jail Programs Credit
DOC Earned Discretionary Sentence
DOC Programs Credit
Sentencing Credit on Concurrent & Consecutive Sentences
Misdemeanor Good Time Act
Time Served in Custody Prior to Sentencing
Strangulation & Great Bodily Harm Cases
Revocation of Good Time Credit

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

cle

Originally Recorded
Tuesday, December 3, 2025
​Ends, December 1, 2027
​

​A Guide To Problem Solving Courts: 
​Drug Court, Recovery Court, and Veteran’s Court

​[Up to 1.5 hours general CLE - Approved] 
​

Presenters:
Hon. Dave Butler [Ret.]-Moderator
Ron Lewis
Hon. Scott Drazewski [Ret.]
Emilio Fischer
Craig Queen

This program will provide an overview of the sentencing alternatives known as Problem Solving Courts. These sentencing alternatives include Drug Court, Recovery Court and Veteran’s Court. Each of these specialized sentences are remedial and are alternatives to a prison sentence. Both defense attorneys and prosecutors will gain an understanding of these specialized sentences including eligibility requirements, terms and conditions, the process of evaluating referrals and the sentencing process.
 
Specific Topics Include:
 
What Are Problem Solving Courts?
Drug Court, Recovery Court, and Veteran’s Court Distinguished
PSC Referrals
PSC Court Process
PSC Teams
Steps In Processing PSC Referrals
Adult Risk Assessments & Drug Evaluations
State’s Attorney’s Screening of PSC Referrals
Attorney’s Role When Client is Sentenced To a PSC
PSC Violations

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

CLE
Originally Recorded
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
​Ends, July 1, 2027

A Case Review from the Bench
​

Presented by: Hon. Donald Bernardi [Ret.] & Hon. Charles Feeney [Ret.]
​
​[Up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved] 

​

Retired Judges Donald Bernardi and Charles Feeney have each selected two cases from their time on the bench that present interesting legal issues. These cases are both civil and criminal and include a variety of issues, including legal malpractice and the use of the involuntary intoxication defense in criminal cases.

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

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

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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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Looking for
opportunities

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A local high school graduate is seeking summer part-time work. He is available to help move boxes or furniture or light maintenance help. If interested in learning more, please email Mary at: [email protected]

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career opportunities 
&
law student opportunities

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logan county ​

Information

closing date 8-12

public defender

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prairie state legal services

Information

link posted 7-6

staff attorney positions

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office space available

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802 N. Clinton, bloomington

Information

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108 w. monroe, BLOOMINGTON

Information

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