Dale Strough Attorney at Law

01/19/2026

01/19/2026

We're taking the day off today in observance of Dr. King's birthday. Society should better observe his principles. Atticus Finch, the lawyer from "To Kill a Mockingbird," exhibited those principles and has been a light and inspiration to me. So salute to justice and human decency in memory of Dr. King.

11/10/2025

People have few health care rights in our society. The State of Illinois is one the few states that provide some protection for medical debt and some right of access. This is always important and will become more so as the costs of health care and insurance increase and become less access able. Check it out on the interactive map below. Salute to our home State of Illinois for its concern and care for its people.

Some states offer additional protection and assistance to individuals incurring medical debt. Use this interactive map to see which states offer assistance.

11/01/2025

Our legislature has acted mercifully and courageously to provide a path peace and comfort when hope is gone

09/16/2025

It was an honor and a privilege to attend the seminar on planning our local community's futures. Thanks to Angel Crawford, director of the Iroquois County Development Association for the inspiration and organizing. Thanks to Gisele Hamm and the State of Illinois for sharing her expertise. I attended as attorney for the Freed Trust that helped with a sponsorship. Thanks to Cissna, Buckley, and Ashkum for their interest. Best wishes to Buckley on winning the planning session, and best wishes on perfecting that new sewer plant project. Disappointing that more local government officials didn't take advantage of the opportunity. We may hope our local government will take more interest in planning and development for the health of our communities.

07/18/2025

65th anniversary salute the "Mockingbird", book release 7/11/1960. Atticus has been an inspiration and a model. Definite nominee for the great American novel

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) isn’t just a film—it’s a quiet, unforgettable masterpiece about justice, empathy, and the human spirit.
Set in the racially segregated American South of the 1930s, the story unfolds through the eyes of young Scout Finch, whose father, Atticus Finch, is appointed to defend a Black man falsely accused of a crime.
Gregory Peck’s performance as Atticus is legendary—calm, principled, and compassionate. His courtroom speech remains one of the most powerful moments in cinema. And outside the courtroom, he’s a single father teaching his children what courage really means.
The film doesn’t just fight injustice—it gently reveals the world through a child’s eyes. Scout and Jem’s fascination with their mysterious neighbor Boo Radley adds depth, warmth, and heartbreak. Robert Duvall, in his first film role, says almost nothing—but leaves an indelible mark.
With Elmer Bernstein’s haunting score, Russell Harlan’s shadowed cinematography, and Horton Foote’s poetic screenplay, every moment feels timeless.
More than 60 years later, To Kill a Mockingbird still speaks—about dignity, about decency, and about seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.
Not loud. Not flashy. Just true.

~Unusual Tales

07/14/2025

Civics is should be the keystone of all education as its purpose is the collective good.

In a June 2023 essay entitled “Civics: Who Will Teach Them?,” U.S. District Judge Curtis L. Collier of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the following statement about the critical importance of effective civics education for all U.S. citizens: “An important component of being a good citiz...

04/07/2025

Salute to Arlene for her many years of first-class service as Clerk of the Circuit Court, bringing all her many personal virtues to the job. Sympathies to the bereaved.

View Arlene J. Hines's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

03/31/2025

As a matter of both conscience and professionalism, I must stand with the legal profession, the American judiciary, and the rule of law.

Attacks on the rule of law, our courts and our profession show no signs of abating. Many have wondered where the lawyers are and how they are responding. Rest assured that the American Bar Association has heard the call to action. We have spoken clearly and repeatedly. But we do not stand alone. We highlight today what the legal profession is saying. Read the statements here: https://ambar.org/a6vw426r

03/19/2025

The change of seasons keeps us in touch with the cycles of life and lift our spirits. The joys of buds, flowers, and baby critters should bring new life to our consciousness as we follow in the flow. Light and warmth to all!

03/19/2025

With the Chief Justice and the ABA for the rule of law and professional dignity.

The ABA stands firmly with Chief Justice John Roberts’ statement rejecting calls by government officials to impeach federal judges who issue rulings with which they disagree.

03/11/2025

This is the first time I've ever done a post on my professional page with political implications. But never have circumstances been so dire. The right to legal counsel under the rule of law is not only essential to democracy but to civilization.. Authoritarian threats to strike fear and intimidate attorneys defending the legal rights of their client is fascist. John Adams even defended the British involved in the Boston massacre. Trump is desecrating all that is sacred. As our Founding Father Ben Franklin said at Independence Hall. "We must all hang together or we'll all hang separately".

Shakespeare’s “kill all the lawyers” joke is getting regrettably more relevant by the day.