Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided and administered the attorney's oath as 140 new attorneys were admitted to practice in ceremonies at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville on Thursday, May 4.
The group is among 776 men and women who were certified as candidates and were sworn in as Illinois attorneys at ceremonies in the state's five Supreme Court judicial districts.
The new attorneys will bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 82,000.
Justice Karmeier presided over the ceremony in Collinsville and welcomed the members of the class, families and friends.
Irene F. Bahr, president-elect of the Illinois State Bar Association, was the opening speaker. Bahr, a sole practictioner in Wheaton, has been active in the ISBA since 1977.
Circuit Court Judge James Wexstten from the 2nd Judicial Circuit also spoke. He also serves as president of the Illinois Judges Association.
Other guess of the Illinois Supreme Court will be Chief Circuit Judge Ann Callis from the 3rd Judicial Circuit and Jan V. Fiss from the 20th Judicial Circuity and Circuit Judge Kevin S. Parker from the 4th Judicial Circuit,
A reception followed.
All of the candidates have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and an ethics examination; and were certified by the Committee on Character and Fitness.