Informed, Independent and Inspired....
- Over 17 years of successful civil litigation practice.
- Numerous trials won in both federal and state courts.
- Wrote hundreds of respected appellate and substantive legal briefs.
- Diverse practice, including civil rights, employment discrimination, and personal injury.
- Extensive experience in First Amendment Law.
- Active member of the Chicago and Illinois Bar Associations.
- Former President of North Suburban Bar Association.
- Committed to equal justice for all people.
Work Experience
- BAUMANN & SHULDINER, Chicago, 2001-Present, Partner
Civil Litigation Practice, Trial and Appellate Work, State and Federal Currently lead counsel on Burr Oak Cemetery litigation, representing hundred of victims of the grave robbings and tombstone desecration. She filed the first class action lawsuit in the Chancery Division in the Circuit Court of Cook County. She sought and obtained immediate injunctive relief to protect the rights of the bereaved and was appointed, by the Circuit Court, liaison counsel to cases later filed in the Law Division. She remains at the forefront of the efforts to achieve monetary and equitable relief for those with loved ones buried at Burr Oak Cemetery.
- DEIDRE BAUMANN, LAW OFFICES, Chicago, 1996-2001
Civil rights litigation practice concentrating on First Amendment, employment, police misconduct, and criminal law issues.
- MICHAEL NULL & ASSOCIATES, Chicago, Associate Attorney, 1993-1996
Boutique firm specializing in First Amendment law. Represented persons restrained from engaging in constitutionally protected expression. Issues and analyses were diverse, but included prior restraint, overrestrictiveness, vagueness, due process, and associational privacy challenges.
- BARRETT & ASSOCIATES, Chicago, Associate Attorney
Handled a variety of cases ranging from corporate, real estate, and bankruptcy to personal injury, employment and criminal. Drafted motions and complaints. Presented arguments in court. Interviewed clients.
- OFFICE OF THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, Chicago, Intern
Performed direct and cross examinations in several felony bench trials and served as co-counsel in felony jury trial. Prepared pretrial motions. Interviewed clients and prepared witnesses.
Deidre Baumann cross-examining U.S. Customs Agent Olga Martinez in Kaniff v. United States.
Other Civic Positions
- Chicago/Cook County 4-H Foundation, President (2004-present), Secretary (est. 1999-2004), Board Member (Jan. 1998-present)
- The Human Rights Campaign, 2009 HRC Gala Committee, Tri-Chair, Silent Auction Sub-Committee (2009)
- Lane Tech Alumni Association, Board Member (2008)
- Touched by an Animal Foundation, Secretary (2007)
Community Service and Volunteer Work
- Volunteer for Lawyers for the Homeless Project, Legal Assistance Foundation.
- Participated in Law Day Programs at the Glenview Senior Center, Glenview, IL. Spoke about employment discrimination, including age and disability issues, sponsored by the North Suburban Bar Association.(2004-2006).
- Volunteer coach for Chicago Public School Speech and Debate Competition.
- “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution,” Center for Civic Education, Judge for state competition (2003, 2004).
- Judge for competition preparation at Maine South High School, Park Ridge (2002).
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Student Advocacy Competition, Judge for the Chicago Regional Competition (2003).
- Judge for the Chicago Bar Association/Young Lawyer's Division Moot Court and Mock Trial Competitions.
- Volunteer attorney for Street Law Program.
Deidre being sworn into Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fratenity, 2009.
Professional Activities
- Sworn into the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity on July 21, 2009
- Illinois State Bar Association, Standing Committee on Professional Conduct (2009),Nominating Committee (2009),general member
- President ex officio (2006-2007)
- North Suburban Bar Association,President (2005-2006),
- First Vice President (Continuing Legal Education) (2004-2005)
- Second Vice President (Lawyer’s Referral Service) (2003-2004)
- Fourth Vice President (Membership) (2002-2003)
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Planning Committee for 95th Annual Installation Dinner, Hotel Subcommittee (2009),
- Judicial Evaluations Committee (2007-2008),
- 65th Annual Joint Professional Dinner & 2006 Women with Vision Award (2006); general member
- Suburban Bar Coalition, Co-Chair for Judicial Evaluations (2008), Panel Chair (2006, 2008), general member
- Chicago Bar Association, Chair of the Constitutional Law Committee, Chicago Bar Association (1996-1997)
- Vice-Chair of the Constitutional Law Committee, CBA (1995-1996)
- CBA Legislative Liaison (2001-2002)
- Planning Committee for CBA Seminar on Hate Speech
- Appointed to Judicial Re-Map Subcommittee, CBA Board of Managers
- Appointed to Anti-Terrorism Legislation Task Force, CBA Board of Managers (2001-2002)
Bar Admissions
- Supreme Court of Illinois, 1992.
- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1992 (general), 1996 (trial).
- United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1994.
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1994.
Education
- Bachelor of Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, Illinois, 1989.
- Juris Doctor,University of Illinois, College of Law, Urbana Champaign, Illinois, May 1992.
- Rickert Award for Excellence in Public Service, 1992.
- Civil Rights Moot Court Team, 1992.