ROCKFORD, Ill. (May 30, 2023) – Joel Huotari, a partner with WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, a full-service Illinois-based law firm headquartered in Rockford, has been admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court.

To practice before the Supreme Court, attorneys must be a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar. This prestigious honor is a valuable asset to WilliamsMcCarthy and its clients with legal matters that may require litigation before the highest court in the land.

Members of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court receive the ability to file and argue cases before the Supreme Court, special seating in the courtroom, access to the court’s library, and a certificate of admission.

The application requires a certificate of good standing from the Illinois Supreme Court, stating that the applicant has been licensed for at least three years, has not been the subject of any adverse disciplinary action, and is of good moral and professional character. Applicants also need two sponsors and a movant, all of whom must already be members of the United States Supreme Court.

“I am honored and grateful to Scott Sullivan and Steve Balogh for sponsoring my application. Both have long served as mentors to myself and others at the firm,” said Huotari. “We at WilliamsMcCarthy owe them a huge debt for their contributions to the firm over the years.”

Huotari is a member of the firm’s litigation and intellectual property practice groups. He is barred in Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as the Seventh Circuit and federal district courts in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Joel M. Huotari is a partner in the firm with a diverse practice in the state and federal courts. He can be reached at jhuotari@wilmac.com or 815-987-8900.