Former judge comes off the bench and back into the game

Some people just don't take to retirement.

Former Circuit Judge Jane Waller, who stepped down from her post in November after 27 years as jurist, has joined a Lake Forest law firm.

Waller is now working for Schiller, DuCanto and Fleck in the area she knows best, divorce and child custody law.

Waller served the majority of her career hearing those types of cases from behind the bench and said she is looking forward to handling them from the other side as an alternative dispute resolution specialist.

"The firm has offered me the opportunity to use my years of experience to provide divorcing couples with mediation and consulting services," Waller said. "I look forward to the challenge of helping divorcing couples enter the next chapter of their lives."

Waller will be joining three other retired judges, Donald Fleck and Benjamin Mackoff of Cook County and Michael Galasso of DuPage County, at the firm.

Scholarships available

Lake County teens can apply for a scholarship to attend the Illinois Teenage Institute on Substance Abuse through Sheriff Mark Curran's office.

Curran said the Illinois Sheriff's Association is offering 60 scholarships across the state to attend the conference scheduled for July 19 to July 23 at Monmouth College.

The scholarships cover tuition, housing, meals, recreation and workshop materials. Transportation is not included.

Applicants must be high school students in the 2009-2010 school year, be willing to attend the entire conference and be interested in serving as a youth leader and prevention resource in his or her school or community.

Further information and applications can be obtained at os-iti.org or by calling the sheriff's office at (847) 377-4050.

CASA donation

Lake County Court Appointed Special Advocates recently received a $7,500 donation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

The organization works with juvenile court judges in assisting abused and neglected children.

The group has 244 advocates and volunteers who meet with the children and other interested parties to advise the judges and assist them in making proper decisions about the future of the children.

For more information about the group, please call (847) 808-9154.