CBA Record Sept-Oct 2019

CBA president FrankGreenberg and Illinois State Bar Association president Henry Pitts. Stevens, along with several other young lawyers, prepared the special commission’s report with findings that included a recom- mendation that called for the immediate resignations of Solfisburg and Klingbiel. In the wake of the commission’s report, both justices resigned from the Illinois Supreme Court. Many believed this com- mission work was a key factor in Stevens’ 1970 appointment to the federal bench. In 2000, his law clerks established the Justice John Paul Stevens annual award to recognize other lawyers who conduct them- selves with the same integrity and excel- lence as Stevens. Stevens himself regularly attended the award luncheons until just a few years ago. Daniel Cotter, a former CBA President, is a member of the CBA Editorial Board and an attorney and counselor at Howard and Howard.

A Friend to The Chicago Bar Association BY DANIEL COTTER

Court Congestion; Nominating Commit- tee; Association Meetings; and a two-year term on the Board of Managers. Stevens’ simultaneous leadership on a number of committees was not common during that era, as committee membership at that time was limited in numbers and members were elected to those positions. Perhaps Stevens’ most important work for the CBA was his work as lead counsel in the 1969 investigation of Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy J. Solfisburg Jr. and Justice Ray I. Klingbiel in connection with a criminal case involving former state revenue director Theodore J. Isaacs. Stevens led the investigation, was directly involved in the inquiry process and hearings, and presented the evidence to the five- member special commission co-chaired by

John Paul Stevens was a lifelong friend of The Chicago Bar Association and was a very active member during his career before becoming a judge. Among his many important CBA committee memberships, he served first as vice chair of the Candidates Committee (now the Judicial Evaluation Committee) from 1958 to 1960. When Stevens was interviewed by then-7th Circuit Judge Ann Clair William in June 2015, he mentioned the Candidates Committee as one of the most important aspects of public service during his career. His committee membership record also includes: Younger Members; Defense of Prisoners; Special Committee to Review the Post-Conviction Act; Development of the Law; Antitrust; Unauthorized Practice; Judiciary; Professional Responsibility;

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