Reform advocacy group plans to honor DLA Piper, Elmhurst attorney

By Bethany Krajelis — bkrajelis@lbpc.com
Law Bulletin staff writer

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) will hand out a pair of awards next week and both recipients happen to belong to the state's legal community.

DLA Piper will receive ICPR's "Paul Simon Public Service Award" and Elmhurst lawyer Terry L. Pastika will get the inaugural "Cynthia Canary Leadership Award" during an event on Thursday.

The awards ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, 325 W. Huron St. It will be part of a larger fundraising event for ICPR, a statewide public interest group that conducts research and advocates for government reform.

Brian Gladstein, executive director of ICPR, said DLA Piper and Pastika, the executive director of the Citizen Advocacy Center, play important roles in helping his group monitor government and push policymakers to be more transparent and accountable.

"We couldn't do what we do alone," he said, referring to ICPR's status as a not-for-profit organization. "They both have helped us with resources, which makes our work in Springfield better and easier."

Gladstein said ICPR decided to give DLA Piper its public service award — which is named after its founder, the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon — to recognize the firm for the work it has donated to the campaign.

DLA Piper helped ICPR write an amicus curiae brief in the 2010 case, Center for Individual Freedom v. Lisa M. Madigan, et al.

In that lawsuit, the Virginia-based center challenged Illinois election laws and sought an injunction to stop the state from enforcing provisions requiring public disclosure of campaign contributions.

ICPR's brief opposed the center's stance and stressed the importance of knowing who is donating to judicial campaigns.

Stanley J. Adelman, senior counsel at DLA Piper, said his firm also recently assisted ICPR in writing a friend-of-the-court brief over the most recently filed petition in the case of Michael E. Avery, et. al. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

The plaintiffs in that case filed a petition in the Illinois Supreme Court in September, claiming they found new evidence that State Farm concealed its involvement in Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier's 2004 campaign for the high court.

Adelman said ICPR did not take a position on the allegedly new evidence in the Avery case, but suggested in its brief that the state high court adopt clear standards on judicial recusals.

Adelman said he is glad he has been able to help ICPR and is honored the campaign decided to give his firm the "Paul Simon Public Service Award."

"I think anytime you get an award named after Sen. Paul Simon, you ought to be grateful," Adelman said. "I've gotten awards over the years, but I think this is one of the best."

Pastika, the Elmhurst lawyer who leads the Citizen Advocacy Center, will be the first recipient of the "Cynthia Canary Leadership Award."

Canary retired this past spring after serving as director since ICPR was founded in 1999. To recognize her contributions, ICPR's board of directors created the leadership award in her name.

"It's nice to be recognized for the work you do," she said. "And when the recognition comes from your peers, it's even more special."

Pastika started at the center in 1999 as a community lawyer and in 2001 became the executive director.

The Citizen Advocacy Center is a not-for-profit legal organization that works to boost citizen participation in the democratic process through education, community organizing, advocacy and litigation.

Pastika said her group has teamed up with ICPR on a variety of issues, including recent legislative battles over redistricting and changes to the Freedom of Information Act.

Gladstein, ICPR's executive director, said Pastika has been a great partner and strong advocate. The fact she is a lawyer, he said, is extremely beneficial to ICPR, which doesn't have a staff of lawyers or the resources to hire them.

"She understands the nuisances of the laws we are dealing with, which I think is really helpful," he said. "She is a breath of fresh air and the Citizen Advocacy Center really pushes the envelope."

For more information or to purchase tickets for Wednesday's ICPR fundraiser, call (312) 335-1767.