Scott R.M. Ealy, Attorney at Law

08/26/2026

— Our sympathies to Roy Dent’s family and friends:

😢

[Roy Jackson Dent III, 57 of Effingham, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

No public services will be held at this time. Arrangements are in the care of Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham.]

Rest in peace, Roy. You were a bright and colorful colleague who will be greatly missed.

08/26/2026

— Newton IL:

The demolition of the Jasper County Courthouse is now complete. See the view from Sky Drone 10 here.

Link: https://www.wthitv.com/2026/08/25/jasper-county-courthouse-demolition-complete-newton/

08/24/2026

It is rule of law in Illinois that if Defendant dies while direct appeal of conviction is pending, his conviction must be abated.

08/24/2026

BREAKING: With Sean Grayson's death today, proceedings are likely on possible vacatur of his conviction and unpaid restitution.

08/14/2026

The demolition process for the Jasper County Courthouse has officially begun.

Story: https://www.wthitv.com/2026/08/11/jasper-county-courthouse-begins-demolition/

08/06/2026

— Revised Pet Custody Act to Take Effect January 1st (2027):

A new Illinois law will allow a judge to decide pet custody disputes between two people who decide to split up, but share a pet together.

07/01/2026

— — Congratulations to the newly announced Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Renee Snow, former Assistant State’s Attorney of Effingham County!

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Today, IDNR is excited to welcome our new interim director, Renee Snow.

Director Snow is no stranger to IDNR. She’s been an attorney for the department since 2014 and general counsel since 2019. She is deeply familiar with some of the most complex projects and challenges facing the department, including the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, federal conservation funding, fiscal and grants operations, fishing and hunting laws and programs, museum and historic preservation work, Tribal relations, and more.

Please join us in welcoming Director Snow to her new role!

06/05/2026

On this day in 1963, Cleve McDowell became the first Black American to attend the University of Mississippi School of Law.

05/21/2026

— BREAKING — — The Illinois Appellate Court at Mt. Vernon has upheld the July 2024 order of Judge Allan Lolie granting judgment in favor of the City of Effingham for a foreclosure sale of the Village Square Mall.

A link to the Appellate Court’s 16-page decision is attached at the bottom of this post.

Redevelopment of the mall by Square Southtown, an Effingham-based development group, had been put on hold by the long-pending appeal by Durga Property Holdings of Cincinnati, Ohio, of the local court’s 2024 order. Durga now has 30-days to appeal the Appellate Court's ruling or it and the court's original ruling become (finally) final.

https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/3076eb9b-34f3-4ca2-a54b-da2c73b1db89/City%20of%20Effingham%20IL%20v.%20Durga%20Property%20Holdings,%20Inc.%202026%20IL%20App%20(5th)%20241175-U.pdf

04/21/2026

- BREAKING — :

The Southern Poverty Law Center says it’s the subject of a Justice Department criminal investigation and faces possible charges over its use of paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups.