"The Brief" - The ALA Blog

The Fifth District Appellate Court is seeking new graduates and experienced attorneys with a passion for legal writing and a strong interest in appellate law for the position of Appellate Court Research Attorney. A Fifth District Research Attorney provides necessary and valuable assistance to the Justices of the Fifth District Appellate Court. Please note, this is a full-time in-person position located at the Fifth District Courthouse in Mt. Vernon, IL.

The Appellate Court Research Attorney performs legal research, analysis, and writing and reviews and assists in the drafting of judicial orders, opinions, and other legal documents for the Justices in matters before the Fifth District Appellate Court.

Candidates must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. Candidates must possess superior research, analytical, and writing skills. Candidates must have strong information technology skills including proficiency with commonly used office software such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Acrobat. Competence in the use of web-based case management software and the ability to perform electronic legal research is also required. Practicing attorneys and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

Interested individuals should submit – via email – a letter of interest, resume, law school transcript with GPA, three references (no letters of recommendation required), and three writing samples to: AC5@illinoiscourts.gov

This position will remain open until filled. However, those individual submitting materials by  Wednesday, December 31, 2025, will be given first consideration.

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts is seeking qualified attorneys to join a statewide Appellate Registry for juvenile abuse and neglect cases. This registry addresses critical attorney shortages and ensures parents have qualified representation in appeals, including termination of parental rights cases.

Attorney Requirements

License: Must be an attorney in good standing, licensed to practice in Illinois

Competency: Working knowledge of the Juvenile Court Act, Illinois Appellate rules and procedures, and related statutes/regulations

Training: Must complete "Effective Appellate Advocacy in Termination of Parental Rights Cases, Part I & II" trainings (free with CLE credits, available on Illinois Judicial College PATH LMS). You can apply before completing the training.

How to Apply

1. Complete the Appellate Counsel Registry Application
2. Submit application materials and certificates to: jaappeals@illinoiscourts.gov

What to Know

• Counsel may be appointed in any appellate district statewide
• Most proceedings are remote
• Attorney fees are paid by the appointing court according to local rules (rates vary by circuit)
• Case assignments are distributed equitably

Questions?

Edward Siemer, Child Welfare Attorney
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts – Courts, Children and Families Division
Phone: (217) 557-9748
Email: esiemer@IllinoisCourts.gov

Justice Robert C. Bollinger is seeking two Appellate Court Law Clerks for his chambers in Decatur, Illinois. The Appellate Court Law Clerk performs legal research, analysis, and writing, and reviews and assists in the drafting of judicial opinions, orders, and other legal documents.

Interested individuals can find more information on the IL Supreme Court's website here.

A celebration of life in honor of Justice Thomas E. Hoffman will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the Ridgemoor Country Club, 6601 W. Gunnison St., Harwood Heights, IL 60706 (parking available). ALA members are invited to attend.

Justice David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the assignment of the Honorable Robert C. “R.C.” Bollinger to the Fifth District Appellate Court. Judge Bollinger is being assigned to fill a newly created vacancy on the Fifth District Appellate Court. The assignment is effective September 29, 2025, and will continue until further order of the Court.

Judge Bollinger was first selected as an Associate Judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Macon County, in 2008. In 2014, he was elected as a Resident Circuit Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit and has gone on to serve as Deputy Presiding Circuit Judge for Macon County. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Bollinger was an attorney for 12 years at Erickson, Davis, Murphy, Johnson, Griffith & Walsh, Ltd., in Decatur.

Judge Bollinger earned his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Illinois State University and his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the Southern Illinois University School of Law. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Illinois Judicial College and is the past Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education and the Illinois Civil Law Benchbook, as well as a past Director of the Illinois Judges Association. 

Justice David L. Vancil is seeking a Law Clerk to perform legal research, analysis, and writing, and to review and assist in the drafting of judicial opinions, orders, and other legal documents.

Applicant must be a licensed attorney and admitted to the Illinois bar, as well as possess excellent research, case analysis, and writing skills. Experience as a law clerk in a reviewing court is preferred but not required.

Applicant must possess the ability to travel within the state. This position requires a valid driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance to operate a personal vehicle on state business, and a safe driving record.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three (3) references to: Honorable David L. Vancil, Jr. at earthur@IllinoisCourts.gov

This position will remain open until filled. However, applications submitted by September 22, 2025 will be given first consideration.

Read more here.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is accepting applications for a full-time United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern Division, with the duty station at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse in Chicago, Illinois.

The deadline to submit completed applications is 5:00 p.m. on September 26, 2025. Appointment is contingent upon approval by the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the Magistrate Judges System. The selected candidate will only be appointed after successfully completing background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. Please see the link below for more information.

Announcement

The Illinois Supreme Court announced the appointment of the Honorable James Hackett to the Fifth District Appellate Court to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Justice Welch. 

Judge Hackett was first selected as an Associate Judge for the Third Judicial Circuit in Madison County in 1995 and served four successive 4-year terms. In 2013, he was appointed as a Circuit Judge in the Third Judicial Circuit before retiring from the bench to return to private practice in 2014. In addition to a long career in private practice, his previous experience includes serving as city attorney for the City of Edwardsville and as special public defender for Madison County.

You can read more about the announcement on the Illinois Courts website.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced the assignment of Cook County Circuit Judge Clare J. Quish to the First District Appellate Court. Judge Quish is being assigned to fill the vacancy created by the reassignment of Justice LeRoy K. Martin Jr. to the vacancy created by the death of Justice Thomas Hoffman. Judge Quish will be assigned all matters previously assigned to Justice Hoffman. 

For more information see the Supreme Court's announcement on the Illinois Courts website or the ISBA's article here.

This month, the Illinois Appellate Court lost two long-serving justices: Justice Thomas E. Hoffman and Justice Thomas M. Welch. Both justices had distinguished careers serving the public and upholding the Illinois and United States Constitutions.

Justice Hoffman passed away on July 4, 2025. He served on the First District bench since 1993.  Justice Hoffman was first appointed as an associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1984, and before that, was a City of Chicago attorney and worked in private practice.

Justice Welch passed away on July 7, 2025. He served on the Fifth District bench since 1980.  Justice Welch first served as a Circuit Court Magistrate from 1965 to 1971, then as the Madison County Assistant State's Attorney from 1971 to 1972, and also worked in private practice.

You can read more on these two men's distinguished careers and funeral arrangements on the Supreme Court's website:

First District Appellate Court Justice Thomas E. Hoffman Passes Away

Fifth District Appellate Court Justice Thomas M. Welch Passes Away