Vested Interest - June 2000 Issue

The President’s Thoughts

It is with great pride that I become the 47th President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Since becoming a lawyer in 1983, I have been given the opportunity to meet, work with and learn from some of the greatest trial lawyers in our country. To see the tremendous discipline, outstanding work ethic and devotion to client representation humbles me to be counted among the membership of such a great organization. From the time I became a new lawyer at the age of 36 to this point in my career, my chest has never stopped bulging from pride this career opportunity has given me.

We have had many tremendously talented Presidents of this organization who have led us through some turbulent times and noteworthy struggles, not the least of which was the Constitutional Challenges in the Best case that led to the overturning of the tort deform legislation that threatened the rights of the citizens of our State who could least bear the burden of such onerous legislation. The concerted efforts of our committed membership and the Constitutional Challenge Committee will live on in the history of our organization for decades.

It is with that historical perspective that I approach the responsibilities of this office. I take solace in the fact that I do not face this task alone. The dedicated leadership and guidance of our Board of Managers, Past Presidents and Executive Committee gives me confidence that our organization will continue to achieve its goals during the coming year.

The leadership provided by Mike Reagan during the past year and the friendship he has shown me commands my sincere gratitude and best wishes for the future for Mike and his family. He leaves the Presidency having brought our organization to a better place from where he found it. His leadership in spearheading the formation of the ITLA Charitable Foundation is to be applauded. The move away from the Adams Mark Hotel for our meetings because of its discriminatory activity as outlined in the U.S. Department of Justice court action taken against it was an action our organization took under Mike's leadership. Thank you, Mike, for your devotion to ITLA's goals! I only hope that I can continue in your outstanding footsteps.

We have seen over the recent years a terrible trend toward violence in our younger generation. It has become a deep concern of mine and, I am sure, of most of our membership. One of the goals that I hope to foster during my tenure will be to provide mentorship and guidance for our youth. I believe this will require the dedication of our membership to devote some amount of time to mentorship in our schools talking to our younger people and providing positive role models. I will be talking to our Executive Committee about suggestions on how to achieve this goal.

Our commitment to the protection of victims rights has never been stronger. We will continue to monitor and oppose legislation being proposed in the general assembly that threatens the rights of victims. Those efforts go hand in hand with the need to support those candidates for office in our general assembly and in Congress who are sensitive to and committed to the protection of the rights of the injured.

Lastly, I hope that I can live up to expectations of my mentors, Joe Power and Jack Hayes, both past Presidents of ITLA, and I thank you all for the opportunity to serve in this great office.

Together We Are Strong.

Larry R. Rogers President
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association