Pelletier succeeds Gottfried
Michael J. Pelletier has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to succeed Theodore A. Gottfried, who retired at the end of 2007 after 35 years as the inaugural state appellate defender.
Previously deputy director on the Chicago office, Pelletier has served on the staff since he was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1976 after graduating from The John Marshall Law School.
He served in the 3rd District for two years, then was an assistant appellate defender in the 1st District from 1978 until his 1987 promotion to deputy defender.
During his four-year appointment, which extends to Dec. 31, 2011, Pelletier will be based in Chicago and make regular visits to the administrative office in Springfield.
He was recommended for the top job by a court-appointed committee chaired by former ARDC administrator Mary T. Robinson. Chicago attorney Thomas M. Breen and Champaign County public defender Randall B. Cunningham were committee members.
Theodore Gottfried, a Laureate of the ISBA Academy of Illinois Lawyers, will be honored by friends and colleagues of the defense bar during a reception at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, in the ISBA Chicago Regional Office.