President's Message
We are quickly ending summer, and gearing up for fall activities. Our first board meeting of this year was very well attended and we moved forward on many projects to enhance your membership in the PCBA. Also, the Board named the two members under 36 to the Nominating Committee. Congrats to Christina Cullom and Kerrianne Waters.
The golf outing was a great success, thanks to Jeff Bach and Brad Keller, (with me at left) who chaired the event. We all raised a glass in memory of our long-time friend and avid golfer, Hon. Don Courson.
I encourage you to attend the Diversity Luncheon on September 29; our speaker, Vincent Cornelius, is the first African American to be the President of the Illinois State Bar Association. Reservations may be made online by clicking here.
The Columbus Day Professionalism Seminar is October 10 and will feature ethical considerations in jury selection and the Batson rule, and in preparing your witnesses for testimony. To register online click here.
The holiday party is not far away and we need volunteers. I know there is a Saturday Night Live (or Jimmy Fallon or Samantha Bee) writer/actor in all of us, so please share that talent by contacting Linda at pcba@mtco.com.
Jerelyn Maher
Remember Strides for Justice 5k run/1 mi. walk on September 24. Register at www.stridesforjustice.com.
Professional Responsibility Seminar - Columbus Day, October 10, 2016
To register online now, click here.
"Hello Malpractice Carrier OR Hello ARDC"
Diligent Jury Selection OR Discrimination, Foster v. Chatman
Diligent Witness Preparation OR Impermissible Coaching of Witness, USA v. Brindley
In this two-hour ethics seminar, Foster v. Chatman and USA v. Brindley will be discussed in regard to the Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Speakers include: Judge Michael McCuskey, Mick Henderson, Robert Hills and Hugh Toner. Retired Judge Jerelyn Maher will moderate.
- The Warehouse on State, 736 SW Washington St., Peoria, IL 61602
- Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch (included in your registration fee)
- The program begins at noon and concludes at 2:00 p.m.
- $65 PCBA members, $80 McLean County Bar members, $95 all others
Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism (ILSCCP) begins its 2016-17 Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program with an orientation on Tuesday, July 26, at the Peoria County Bar Association (PCBA) office. Guest speaker will be Sonni Choi Williams, a PCBA member who is a member of the ILSCCP. This is a voluntary one-year program available for new lawyers admitted to practice in Illinois no more than two years prior to beginning the program and mentor lawyers admitted to the practice in Illinois not less than six years. You may register online at http://lawyermentor.ilsccp.org/pcba/
As a young attorney the thought of finally being in the legal profession, alone, and without the support of your law school professors and faculty members can be quite overwhelming for some. However, that is why programs like the PCBA’s mentoring program are so important because they are very beneficial to the development of young attorneys. Over the past year I have come to truly appreciate the value of the PCBA mentoring program, and I am grateful the committee selected me, in addition to many other young attorneys in our area to participate in the program. When I initially applied for the program I had one goal, and that was to learn as much as possible about the ins and outs of the actual practice of law from an experienced attorney here in Peoria, Illinois. Needless to say, by being paired with Tracy Pitzen my expectations were exceeded. When we met, Mr. Pitzen brought the perspective of a solo practitioner who has practiced in Peoria and the surrounding area for decades, and who has seen the ups and downs that come with our profession. By meeting with Mr. Pitzen I learned what it truly takes to succeed in the legal profession. But, most importantly, I learned how invaluable it is to be paired up with an individual you did not know prior to participating in the program. This act gives young attorneys an opportunity to leave their comfort zone and to form a professional relationship in a mentor/mentee capacity with someone new, and I am a profound believer in the fact that one can never have too many mentors. As such, I would recommend the mentoring program to both young and experienced attorneys.
Arsenio L. Mims
Law Clerk
Senior District Judge Michael Mihm
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
