State Supreme Court justices administer oath to 600 new attorneys

Illinois’ Supreme Court justices ushered 600 new lawyers into the state’s legal system this week.

On Thursday, May 7, the lawyers took the attorney’s other during ceremonies in five locations.

According to a release from the state Supreme Court, a group of 403 lawyers took the oath during three ceremonies that morning and afternoon at the James R. Thompson Center’s Assembly Hall in downtown Chicago.

Laywers taking the attorney’s oath have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination, an ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness.

Their admission to the bar brings Illinois’ total number of licensed attorneys to about 95,000.

Justice Anne M. Burke presided over a ceremony at 9 a.m., while Justice Charles E. Freeman and Illinois First District Appellate Justice Cynthia Cobbs presided over an 11:30 a.m ceremony. Justice Mary Jane Theis administered the oath to the lawyers at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

Elsewhere in the state, attorneys were sworn at ceremonies in Elgin, Ottawa, Springfield and Carbondale.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman administered the oath at Illinois’ Fourth District ceremony in the Supreme Court Courtroom in Springfield.

Justice Robert R. Thomas presided over the Second District Ceremony at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

Justice Thomas L. Kilbride welcomed the lawyers at the Third District Appellate Court Building in Ottawa.

And Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided over the Fifth District ceremony at the Southern Illinois University School of Law Auditorium in Carbondale.