Scott R.M. Ealy, Attorney at Law

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.

04/10/2026

— Circuit Judge Tracy W. Resch of Marshall will be stepping down in December, following 36-years of judicial service: https://www.thexradio.com/news/local-news/35054-tracy-resch-to-not-seek-re-election-as-circuit-judge-at-end-of-term/

04/09/2026

The Effingham Public Library provides a variety of services and resources to the community. Apply for your Library card today!

04/02/2026

03/14/2026

— In great appreciation of the life lived by the Rev. John Perkins:

“He will always be remembered as one who tried to get the races to come together,” said Constance Slaughter-Harvey. https://ow.ly/Vv3w50Ytt2M

02/12/2026

Signs of an "ism" in the legal profession: easily annoyed; rushed, mistake-prone behavior; habitually leaving early.

02/10/2026

— Local State Senator Steve McClure Continues Work to Protect School-Aged Victims of Sexual Assault:

An Illinois state senator is renewing a push to change state law to require the immediate expulsion of students found responsible for sexual assault, arguing current policies leave victims unprotected

01/09/2026

The Illinois Supreme Court as of Jan. 1 revised its policy that allows news media to bring cameras and microphones into the state's courtrooms. One big change: Reporters in every county can now request access. Previously, about 60 percent of Illinois counties permitted the requests. Read more: https://www.inba.net/2026/01/08/cameras-in-courtrooms-now-an-option-in-all-illinois-counties/