Vested Interest - January 1999 Issue

The President’s Thoughts

At our recent Board Meeting a number of interesting matters were discussed and approved. The Board voted to move ahead with the reinstitution of an ITLA journal. There had been a journal published by ITLA until the late 1980's. This will give an opportunity for all members, especially younger members, to become published in areas of trial advocacy. It will also present an opportunity to balance the trial literature read by members of the judiciary, academia and other interested parties.

The Board also took action on a request from the Public Interest Fund of Illinois, voting to endorse charitable giving on the part of their various firms. Under the plan, all members of the firm would have an opportunity to give to their favorite charity, including Family Advocating Injury Reduction (FAIR) as well as many other ethnic, social, racial, safety and consumer organizations. Charitable giving, like pro bono work, should be a part of every firm.

In addition, the Board discussed judicial evaluations by special interest groups and the detrimental effect it can have on the independence of the judiciary. Where judges are asked to give opinions on a particular issue, and an endorsement is based on their positions, it can be very intimidating. The matter was sent to the Judicial Independence Committee for consideration and it will report back to the Board.

Finally, the Amicus Curiae Committee, chaired by Bruce Pfaff, is in need of additional Amicus Brief writers. There are many important issues before our Supreme and Appellate Courts that need the support of an Amicus Brief. Those interested in having the opportunity to write a brief on important ITLA issues should call the our office.

Just before the Christmas holidays, we had a press conference in Chicago on the need for wearing bike helmets. It was covered by the local T.V. and radio stations, as well as the Chicago Tribune. The reason for having the press conference at that time is the popularity of bikes as Christmas or holiday gifts. We encouraged parents complete the gift and make it safe by including a bike helmet. A number of young helmet recipients from a YMCA on the west side of Chicago, on their own, put together a large six foot banner which they held on display at the news conference and which appeared in theTribune. It said that "trial lawyers are 'thumb thing' special at our YMCA".

They put numerous thumb prints on the banner, then drew the thumb prints into children doing various activities including bike riding. It was very creative, and we were pleased to receive it. We will be doing other press conferences throughout the state later this year.

On a sad note, we recently lost one of the outstanding members of the judiciary. Circuit Court Judge Joan Corboy, daughter of Past President Phil Corboy, wife of ITLA member James Epstein and sister of Board Member Phil Corboy, Jr., was a strong believer in our system of justice and a teacher of trial advocacy. Our prayers and deepest sympathies go out to the Corboy and Epstein families.

Martin J. Healy, Jr.
President, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association