NWSBA Installs New Officers

The Northwest Suburban Bar Association marked the changing of the guard in June, with its installation dinner and swearing in of new officers.

The Honorable William O. Maki, presiding judge in the Third Municipal District of Cook County, performed the installation and swearing in of new officers: Donald J. Cosley, president; Neil H. Good, executive vice president; Michael A. Meschino, first vice president; William F. Kelley, second vice president; and Ronald F. Wittmeyer, treasurer. Nichole M. Waltz, who was not present, is secretary.

Judge Maki also installed new members of the Board of Governors, serving from 2011 to 2014: Anna Markley Bush, Andrew H. Haber, Maxwell Petersen, Kenneth C. Apicella and Rafi R. Arbel, plus Steven Kyriazes, association attorney; and Nicholas Richardson, parliamentarian. Both will serve from 2011 to 2012.

The Honorable Kay Hanlon and the the Honorable Jill Cerone-Marisie, both of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Third Municipal District, served as masters of ceremonies for the evening, held at Rolling Green Country Club in Arlington Heights.

Outgoing President Lee F. DeWald offered his thanks to the executive committee, and praised all of the chairpeople with whom he has worked. He is very proud of the fact that the Illinois State Bar Association recently recognized NWSBA members’ pro bono work by presenting the NWSBA with ISBA’s John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award.

In accepting the presidential gavel, Cosley said that the time commitment and hours spent away from home that have been involved with his work with the NWSBA over the past 10-plus years cannot match what’s been given him in return.

“I look forward to the challenges of the upcoming year. I’m extremely humbled and honored,” he said.

The Honorable James P. Etchingham and the Honorable Joel L. Greenblatt received the President’s Award for Distinguished Public Service. Judge Etchingham was appointed to the bench of the Circuit Court of Cook County in March 1994 and served until his appointment ended in 1996. He was reappointed in May 1998 and has served in a variety of courtrooms since then. Since the inception of the Domestic Violence Division in December 2010, Judge Etchingham has been dually assigned to that division as well as to the Third Municipal District.

Judge Greenblatt has served as a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County since August 2004. He was elected as an Associate Judge in April 2007. He was transferred to the Third Municipal District in September 2005. He currently presides over the domestic violence call, as well as requests for civil orders of protection.

Music during the evening was provided by Vazquez. Sponsors included Kelley, Kelley & Kelley, Attorneys at Law; Riebandt & DeWald; Republic Title; the Law Offices of Michael A. Meschino; and ADR Systems.

— Submitted by the Northwest Suburban Bar Association