Arlington Heights lawyer honored for mentoring, advising other attorneys
Arlington Heights attorney Ernie Blomquist has served as the village's prosecutor for 40 years, but he still draws on his roots as a teacher. Before his law career, Blomquist taught in Mount Prospect Elementary District 57.
Turns out his colleagues in the legal profession admire his teaching ability almost as much as his legal skills. At next month's holiday party thrown by the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, Blomquist will receive the group's mentorship award.
What's more, they will be rolling out a new mentoring program named in Blomquist's honor: "Ernest R. Blomquist, III, Mentorship Program."
This lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring program will match experienced attorneys with new lawyers, who have been in practice less than five years, in a yearlong mentoring program.
"This is a wonderful opportunity that allows established attorneys to mentor new lawyers and help them develop practical skills, judgment and networking skills as a foundation to practicing law and becoming successful," says Julie Barth, executive director of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association. "It also helps instill ethical and professional values that will remain with them for their careers."
By all accounts, that seems to be the case with Blomquist. In preparing for the award ceremony, many of his colleagues reflected on Blomquist's impact on their individual law careers - beyond having him teach many of their continuing legal education courses.
He has won numerous awards. In 2013, Blomquist was named one of the "Top Lawyers in Chicago," while the Illinois Crime Commission named him "Municipal Attorney of the Year" in 2005. Blomquist also has received the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the legal industry's database, since 2009.
Yet, his influence seems to come back to his teaching, according to his many colleagues who eagerly shared their stories.
"Working for Ernie was the biggest break a young lawyer could have asked for," said Brian Crowley, a Palatine-based attorney who worked for Blomquist from 1987-1997. "He knew the law, he was prepared and he was tenacious in representing his clients."
Another Palatine attorney, Thomas Moran, recalls, like many, of losing a battle to Blomquist in court, but of ultimately coming away better for having been in the courtroom with him.
"In looking for a legal role model, I quickly found one in Ernie, when one day he displayed his exceptional litigation skills at my expense," Moran said. "That day, when the dust settled, Ernie took the time to teach me about what I did right and wrong.
"He was gracious and generous with his time," Moran added. "Although I lost to him, I left feeling good about myself and my chosen profession."
Rolling Meadows attorney Matt Fakhoury is a former prosecutor now working in criminal defense, while also serving as adjunct professor at DePaul University. But he still remembers one of his first DUI cases that he prosecuted, going up against Blomquist.
"As I was struggling through the case, I came upon an issue in the trial that I didn't have the answer to, so I turned to a handy DUI book that I had been given," Fakhoury recounts. "I glanced down and saw that the book was written by one, Ernie Blomquist. I looked over at Ernie in the middle of the trial, and he was smiling."
Like many others, Fakhoury lost that trial to Blomquist, but he carried with him all that he learned that day and now is sharing it with students of his own.
Blomquist even has the respect of many on the bench, including Judge Jill Cerone-Marisie, who recently was elected presiding judge of the Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.
"As a young state's attorney, after losing a case against Ernie, instead of gloating, Ernie encouraged me to do things differently," Marisie says. "He was honest, humble and never took advantage of the situation, but, most of all, he was honest and trustworthy."