Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

Related Photos

June 9, 2006

Chinese lawyer learning American law here

By GREGORY R. NORFLEET

gregory.norfleet@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — In America, if there is no law written to prohibit a particular activity, then neither the government nor plaintiffs have any grounds to sue or convict.

Even if a law is enacted, if it comes after-the-fact, it’s too late for anything that already has happened.

Not so in China, where the Supreme Court can, at the request of a lower court, declare an activity illegal even if nothing’s been enacted.

Yanxiang Guo, a Chinese lawyer studying American law here, finds that interesting.

However, he observes, American judges still can create new rules from how they interpret existing laws.

Arriving in Mt. Vernon last week as a Washington University intern, Guo will spend eight weeks helping judges in the Second Judicial Circuit.

Guo, who goes by “G,” is the first student under a new program that helps minorities or those from low-income families find internships.

The Judicial Intern Opportunity Program once only operated in Cook and Lake counties, said Circuit Judge James Wexstten, who helped expand the program in Illinois as the 2005-06 president of the Illinois Judges Association. Now, through partnerships with various law firms and legal organizations, there are 15 new clerkships in the state’s 22 circuits.

Guo has both an undergraduate and masters degree in Chinese law, plus two years of practice as general counsel at a Chinese company. He said he quit his job and came to America in 2004, because Chinese businesses wishing to expand to the United States need to understand the legal system.

“They want to know how to pay less taxes,” he said.

China’s economy is also quickly growing and government and corporations are facing new legal problems — especially in securities and exchange markets — something the United States has already overcome, Guo said.

“I want to learn from (America’s) experiences,” he said.

Guo is also interested in civil rights, especially the First (free speech, religion, press, petition), Fourth (no unreasonable search and seizure), Eighth (no cruel and unusual punishment) and Fourteenth (citizenship and public office) amendments.

Wexstten and other judges are giving Guo work similar to that of a law clerk, like writing legal briefs, as well as having him sit in on lawyer conferences and court hearings.

Interns draw a $1,500 stipend for the experience but could spend numerous hours doing the work — “as long as it takes to get the job done,” said Wexstten.

The judge held up one assignment for a civil case involving land and family matters with the note “Very complicated!”

Wexstten said Guo is “eager and excited” about the internship. Guo said he hopes to stay in America and practice law for a few years here under a work visa before returning to China.

“I sense he’ll be an outstanding lawyer,” said the judge.



Text Only
Local
  • Evening of Jazz at Cedarhurst Valentine weekend

    The 6th Annual Valentine Weekend Jazz Concert at Cedarhurst will be held Saturday, featuring the Loren Golden Ensemble.
    "This is the sixth year for the Evening of Jazz at Cedarhurst,” Sarah Sledge, Cedarhurst's Communications Director noted. "It's always a popular event when we pair jazz music with the Valentine theme."
    Golden, an attorney by profession, is a talented pianist who frequently performs with the Elgin Community College Jazz Ensemble, inormation states.  A pianist since the age of four, his love of the arts has inspired his continued involvement with music. Golden has enjoyed playing piano in variety shows, summer theatre, and clubs such as the Playboy Clubs in Chicago and Lake Geneva.

    February 9, 2012

  • District 80 receives recognition

    City Schools District 80 received a 3.8 out of a possible 4 points on its 2012 Financial Profile Designation from the Illinois State Board of Education.
    This is the second year in a row the district has received the “financial recognition” category from the state board; the district received the same score as 2011.

    February 9, 2012

  • WILLIAMS JCAAHC highlights citizens

    Karl Williams, the inbound manager at Walgreen’s Distribution, has worked there for 39 years, 20 of which has been in the King City.
    Debbie Kendrick-Hopgood followed in her grandmother’s and father’s footsteps as the head of Kendrick Paper Stock Company, and has worked there since 1980.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Start Smart program to start second season

    MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon Department of Parks and Recreation will host a second season of Start Smart, a program that helps parents teach their children sports skills.

    February 8, 2012

  • Mayor declares February Black History Month

    MT. VERNON — February is Black History Month across the United States, but it is officially Black History Month in the city of Mt. Vernon as well.

    February 8, 2012

  • Church to host revival

    MT. VERNON — Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting a three-day Black History Month Celebration/Winter Revival in conjunction with Jefferson County Crusaders for Change.

    February 8, 2012

  • City approves track construction plans

    MT. VERNON —  The Mt. Vernon City Council on Monday approved a resolution allowing a rail spur to be built onto Continental Tire the Americas property.

    February 8, 2012

  • fire fighter Fire fighters tour with military truck

    MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon Fire Department firefighter and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Chris Heiken brought a military tactical fire fighting truck to the 42nd Street Mt. Vernon Fire Department station on Tuesday.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • Chamber of Commerce seeks nominations

    MT. VERNON — Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 2012 Citizen of the Year and Small Business Person of the Year.

    February 7, 2012

  • Crime Stoppers to release Watchdog Quarterly

    MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Crime Stoppers is gearing up to release its first Watchdog Quarterly.

    February 7, 2012