Russell Scott to receive Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award

The following was released by the Illinois State Bar Association’s Illinois Lawyer Now publication.  Mr. Scott is a long-time Board  Member of Land of Lincoln, who served over fifteen years as our Board President.  He currently serves on our Board as an Advisory Member.

Russell Scott to receive Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award

The Illinois Bar Foundation will honor Belleville attorney ISBA Board member Russell K. Scott with the foundation’s prestigious 2011 Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award. The award will be presented at a meeting of the ISBA’s Midyear Meeting in Chicago.  Past recipients of the award include U.S. Senators Alan Dixon and Paul Simon, Illinois Supreme Court justices, federal judges and noted attorneys. Scott is a senior litigation officer with Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. and co-manager of the firm’s Southern Illinois Practice Group, based in Belleville.

The award honors Scott for significant contributions to law, society and the Illinois Bar Foundation and The Fellows program. Founded more than 50 years ago, the foundation ensures meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those of limited means, and assists lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity.  Find our more at www.illinoisbarfoundation.org.

With Greensfelder, Scott’s practice includes the defense of legal and medical malpractice suits, product liability actions, industrial accident cases, premises liability, automobile, construction, insurance coverage, class action, toxic tort, general commercial and personal injury litigation. He is also a certified mediator.

Scott was inducted into the Academy of Illinois Lawyers in 2009. He is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and fellow and board member of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution.

Scott received his law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. He also has a degree in political science from Earlham College in Richmond, Ind.

To read more: http://iln.isba.org/blog/2011/11/17/russell-scott-receive-illinois-bar-foundations-distinguished-service-law-and-society

Land of Lincoln mourns the loss of long-term Board member Kathleen P. Moran

Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation is deeply saddened to announce the passing of long-term Board of Directors member, the Honorable Kathleen Moran.  She served on our Board of Directors for over twenty-five years.

The Record – 11/2/2011 9:32 AM by Staff Reports

Former Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Kathleen P. Moran, 61, died at her home in Trenton on Oct. 31.

Moran, who retired last year after 16 years on the bench, is the daughter of the late Appellate Court Justice George Moran, Sr. and sister to former Madison County Circuit Judge George Moran, Jr.

She is survived by her husband, James Patrick Callahan, and three children, Andrew Callahan and wife Annie of St. Louis, Elizabeth Callahan and fiance Benjamin Burch of Breese, and Rebecca Callahan and husband Russell Muren of Boulder, Colo.

She began her legal career in 1976 as a clerk to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joseph Goldenhersh. She then started a private legal practice in 1977 with her husband in Trenton.

Moran was a member of the Board of Directors for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation in East St. Louis.

Her family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the Land of Lincoln Legal Foundation. Donations will be accepted at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Trenton or through Moss Funeral Home in Trenton.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Trenton.

A memorial service will be held following visitation at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the church.

http://www.madisonrecord.com/news/239410-former-judge-kathleen-moran-dies

 

LAND OF LINCOLN JOSEPH R. BARTYLAK AWARD PRESENTED TO BRENT HOLMES

Attorney Brent Holmes will be presented with the Land of Lincoln Joseph R. Bartylak Pro Bono Award on October 6, 2011.  This Award was created in 2011 in memory of Joseph R. Bartylak who was Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation’s Executive Director from 1976 to 2003.  It honors a volunteer attorney who has directly achieved outstanding results for low income clients or who has supported Land of Lincoln staff in their delivery of high quality legal services to the poor and elderly.

The Honorable Matt Sullivan will present the award to Mr. Holmes during a meeting of the Coles-Cumberland Bar Association. Brent Holmes is a long-time volunteer through the Coles-Cumberland Bar Association who has consistently accepted referrals for eligible clients for over fifteen years.  He has devoted over 55 hours for the three cases he has closed in just the past two years, and he has donated more than 215 hours since he joined the pro bono panel after its formation in 1996.

“Brent is a model of what the term pro bono lawyer means,” states Clare McCulla, Senior Supervisory Attorney with the Charleston satellite office.  “These are deserving people with meritorious cases who might not have been able to resolve their problems without his help.”

Circuit Judge Matt Sullivan states, ‘The pro bono service of Brent Holmes and the Coles-Cumberland Bar Association is very important for the community because people with legal problems need access to legal assistance whether or not they can afford to hire attorneys.”

“I think that it is evident to any lawyer that there is an overwhelming volume for people in the legal aid agencies, and there is a dire need for the poor to have equal access to justice,” states Mr. Holmes. “I think there is a great sense of professional accomplishment when I am able to represent clients who otherwise would not have any chance to have their day in court or obtain a fair result in a case without a lawyer’s assistance.”  Mr. Holmes also notes, “Some of my most gratifying cases have been those where there are children in a custody dispute, and we were able to obtain a decision that is in their best interests and provides them with a stable home and opportunity to grow up and become productive in today’s society.”

 

New Help for Self-Represented Litigants in Montgomery County

Illinois Coalition For Equal Justice – December 1, 2010

Resident Judge Kelly Long and Circuit Clerk Holly Lemons announced the opening of a legal self-help center for residents of Montgomery County. The new internet-based center will be accessible from a computer in the Montgomery County Law Library at the courthouse in Hillsboro. Personnel from the circuit clerk’s office will be available to show individuals how to use the website at the courthouse. Other individuals who do not own a computer will be able to use public access computers at public libraries throughout Montgomery County.

View the complete article at: http://www.illinoislegaladvocate.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.newsDetails&newsID=1067