Illinois, 1980 United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, General Bar, 1980, Trial Bar, 1987, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1982 EDUCATION Legal J.D., 1980, University of Notre Dame Law School Associate Editor, Notre Dame Lawyer (Law Review) Thomas J. White Scholar, Thomas J. White Center for Law Government and Human Rights Recipient, University of Notre Dame Law School Scholarship Moot Court participant Completed nine-month National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) course Undergraduate B.A., 1977, Political Science, University of Dayton Graduated Summa Cum Laude Recipient, Upperclass Scholarship Member, Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society Dean’s List every semester Participant, Freshman Honors Symposium EMPLOYMENT Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County December, 1996 to present Since June 2001: assigned to the Law Division, currently assigned to the Commercial Calendar section, previously assigned to the Motion Section and the Jury Section 1996-2001: assigned to the First District Municipal Department, including three years in the Jury Trial Section, hearing motions and over 200 jury trials and one year in Traffic Court, hearing petty offense trials and motions and bench trials in misdemeanor traffic case City of Chicago Department of Law, Torts Division 1996, Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel 1989 -1996, Assistant Corporation Counsel Senior litigator responsible for trial preparation and trial of high-exposure cases, supervising and authorizing settlements of other attorneys in the division; extensive experience briefing and arguing dispositive motions; briefed and argued motion and appeal that made new law favorable to municipalities; taught trial advocacy course and governmental law seminar. Lord, Bissell and Brook 1980-1989, Associate General litigation practice in both state and federal courts with an emphasis on defense of professional liability actions, including ERISA, RICO, securities and unfair business practices claims; extensive experience with written and oral discovery, briefing and arguing motions and negotiating settlements; jury and bench trial experience; appellate experience. The Honorable Luther M. Swygert, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Summer 1979, Legal Extern Researched and drafted opinions. PUBLICATIONS McDonald, “The Top Ten Ways to Avoid Losing a Motion for Summary Judgment,” 92 Illinois Bar Journal 128 (March 2004) (lead article) McDonald, “Striking the Right Balance: The New Supreme Court Rule 213” 90 Illinois Bar Journal 8 (August, 2002)(lead article) McDonald, “Rule 213(g): The ‘Solution’ to Rule 220 Creates New Problems” 89 Illinois Bar Journal 80 (February 2002) McDonald, “Enforcing Rule 213 Consistent with Common Sense and Justice: Addressing the ‘Hypertechnical’ Motion” The Gavel (publication of the Illinois Judges Association) (Winter 2000) McDonald, “Is Aggravation of a Pre-existing Condition a Separate Element of Damages?” Tort Trends (ISBA) (June 2000) McDonald, “Same Part of the Body Rule Revised: Admissibility of Prior Injuries in Personal Injury Cases” 87 Illinois Bar Journal 414 (August 1999) (lead article) McDonald, “When Notice is Required in Premises Liability Cases: Another Look at Reed v. Wal-Mart” IDC Quarterly (Third Quarter 1999) McDonald, “Motions to Dismiss Under the Speedy Trial Act” 85 Illinois Bar Journal 468 (October 1997) (lead article) McDonald, “The Applicability of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to Private Wrongs” 39 DePaul Law Review 95 (1989), recommended in "Worth Reading" in the National Law Journal (February 5, 1990) Note, “Equal Pay for Coaches of Female Teams: Finding a Cause of Action Under Federal Law” 55 Notre Dame Lawyer 751 (1980) PRESENTATIONS Lecturer, Chicago Bar Association (CBA) Tort Litigation Committee "Advice from the Bench" Seminar, 2008, “Motions for Summary Judgment” Lecturer, IDC Spring Seminar, 2008, “Motions for Summary Judgment” Lecturer, City of Chicago Department of Law, 2006, “Motions in Limine” Faculty, Judicial Conference 2004, Pretrial Motions (co- taught with Hon. Patrick Leston) Speaker, CBA Young Lawyers Section Tort Litigation Committee, April 25, 2002, “The Amended Rule 213” Panelist, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel Fall Seminar, September 22, 2001, “Contemporary Themes in Civil Practice & Procedure” Speaker, CBA Tort Litigation Committee, April, 2001, “Admissibility of Prior Injuries after Voykin v. DeBoer” Speaker, CBA Young Lawyers Section Tort Litigation Committee, September 28, 2000, “Admissibility of Prior Injuries after Voykin v. DeBoer” Speaker, CBA Young Lawyers Section Premises Liability Seminar, April 19, 1999 “View from the Bench/Jury Instructions” Speaker, CBA Young Lawyers Section Tort Litigation Committee, November 12, 1998, “Admissibility of Prior Injuries and Pre-existing Conditions in Personal Injury Cases” Speaker, CBA Young Lawyers Section Tort Litigation Committee, October 27, 1997, “Admissibility of Intoxication and Convictions in Civil Cases” COMMUNITY SERVICE Christopher House volunteer, teaching English as a second language Former Girl Scout troop co-leader Former Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation mentor Former Chicago Cares volunteer HOBBIES Creative writing, tennis |
