Justice Lisa Holder White of the Illinois Supreme Court will administer the attorney’s oath to five new lawyers on May 6 in the Fourth Judicial District. The ceremony is part of a statewide event where 279 individuals will be sworn in and admitted to practice law in Illinois.
The event highlights a significant milestone for these new attorneys, who have completed both the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination, as well as certification by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. The bar admission ceremony in Springfield will begin at 11 a.m. at the Supreme Court Building, with Justice Holder White presiding. Following the ceremony, there will be a reception hosted by the Illinois State Bar Association.
John Gabala, Research Director for the Fourth District Appellate Court, will deliver the keynote address. Other speakers include John Kim from the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and Heather McPherson, Third Vice President of the Illinois State Bar Association. Chief Judge Jacquelyn D. Ackert of the 15th Judicial Circuit will make the motion to admit this class of attorneys, seconded by Cynthia Grant, Clerk of the Illinois Supreme Court.
Guests attending include Fourth District Appellate Justice Raylene Grischow; United States District Court Judges Colleen Lawless and Karen McNaught (retired); Alexandra Rice, Director of Admissions to the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; and Kelli Gordon, President of that board. Similar ceremonies are scheduled for Chicago, Elgin, Joliet and Mt. Vernon.
The Fourth Judicial District covers 41 counties across central and western Illinois.
The Illinois Bar Association serves more than 28,000 members according to its official website. It promotes diversity, equity and inclusion within its membership according to its official website, supports continuing legal education along with practice management resources according to its official website, recognizes excellence through awards for pro bono service according to its official website, utilizes facilities such as its own Bar Center for operations according to its official website, and operates under an elected president with oversight from a Board of Governors and an Assembly according to its official website.
