Chicago Bar Association seeks nominees for 2021 John Paul Stevens Award

The Chicago Bar Association is accepting nominations for its annual Justice John Paul Stevens Award. Established in 2000, the award is presented annually to Illinois lawyers and judges whose careers best emulate Justice Stevens’ integrity, legacy of service to the bench and the bar, and commitment to public and community service. This year's award presentation will be made in the Fall.

Nominations with supporting materials or information should be sent to the Justice John Paul Stevens Award Committee by August 13, c/o Beth McMeen, Executive Director at bmcmeen@chicagobar.org.

Prior John Paul Stevens Award honorees include:

• 2020 - Marisel Hernandez, Jennifer Nijman, Terrence Murphy, Zaldwaynaka (Z) Scott and Judge E. Kenneth Wright Jr.;


• 2019 - Hon. Sharon Johnson Coleman, Hon. Lori E. Lightfoot, Hon. William D. Maddux (ret.), Hon. Sheila M. Murphy (ret.), Joseph A. Power, Jr. and Mark L. Rotert;


• 2018 - Laurel G. Bellows, Carol A. Brook, Kevin P. Durkin, John N. Gallo, Terri L. Mascherin, Hon. P. Scott Neville, Jr., Hon. Jesse G. Reyes, Hon. Mary K. Rochford, and Tina Tchen;


• 2017 - Hon. Ruben Castillo, Robert A. Clifford, Hon. Nathaniel R. Howse, Jr., Hon. Joan Humphrey Lefkow, Richard J. Prendergast, Larry R. Rogers, Sr., Ronald S. Safer, Hon. Mary Jane Theis, and Dan K. Webb;


• 2016 - George B. Collins, Brian L. Crowe, Thomas A. Demetrio, Thomas Anthony Durkin, J. Timothy Eaton, Josie M. Gough, Joan M. Hall, Eileen M. Letts, and Joseph L. Stone;


• 2015 - Peter J. Birnbaum, James R. Figliulo, Edward I. Grossman, Hon. Shelvin Louise Marie Hall, Paula H. Holderman, Mary Meg McCarthy, Daniel E. Reidy and William A. Von Hoene, Jr.;


• 2014 - Kimball R. Anderson, Hon. Joy V. Cunningham, Kevin M. Forde, Hon. Michael B. Hyman, Hon. Thomas L. Kilbride, Jean Powers Kamp, Gordon B. Nash Jr., and Kerry R. Peck;


• 2013 - William F. Conlon, Hon. William H. Hooks, Hon. Warren D. Wolfson, and Hon. Diane P. Wood;


• 2012 - Anita Alvarez, Jeffrey D. Colman, Honorable Joan B. Gottschall, Thomas Z. Hayward, Jr., Hon. James F. Holderman and Willie J. Miller, Jr.;


• 2011 - Ellen E. Douglass, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, and David C. Hilliard;


• 2010 - Hon. Wayne R. Andersen and Hon. Sophia H. Hall;


• 2009 - Hon. Marvin E. Aspen, Lawrence E. Kennon, Terence F. MacCarthy and Howard J. Trienens;


• 2008 - Hon. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, John B. Simon and Hon. Ann C. Williams;


• 2007 - Leon M. Despres, James D. Montgomery, Sheldon H. Roodman and Sister Catherine M. Ryan;


• 2006 - Hon. Anne M. Burke, Donald Hubert, Hon. Charles P. Kocoras and Thomas H. Morsch;


• 2005 - George M. Burditt, Hon. Timothy C. Evans, Hon. Abner J. Mikva and Hon. Ilana Diamond Rovner;


• 2004 - Martha A. Mills, George W. Overton and Hon. Seymour F. Simon;


• 2003 - Hon. Joel M. Flaum, Hon. Earl E. Strayhorn and Hon. James R. Thompson;


• 2002 - George J. Cotsirilos, Hon. Mary Ann G. McMorrow and Newton N. Minow;


• 2001 - Hon. Richard J. Fitzgerald, Dolores K. Hanna, Robert A. Helman, Hon. Prentice H. Marshall, Earl L. Neal and Alexander Polikoff;


• 2000 - Jean Allard, Hon. William J. Bauer, Philip H. Corboy, Milton H. Gray, Hon. George N. Leighton, Dawn Clark Netsch, Jerold S. Solovy and Thomas P. Sullivan.

Ed. Note -- While I've reformatted it, the contents of the above list has been reproduced exactly as it was received from the CBA. Persons who were serving as judges at the time of their selection, or who had served as judges but retired prior to their selection, were generally accorded the "Hon." designation before their names. Scanning the list you'll see a number of persons who later attained judicial office but who were not yet designated as "Hon." when they received their awards. On the other hand, the late Brian L. Crowe was both a Cook County Circuit Court judge and, later, Chicago Corproation Counsel, before his award was conferred and he didn't get his "Hon."

Honorifics are kind of a minefield because there are no hard and fast rules about where to draw the line between "Hon." and the rest of us. Present and former elected officials and persons who have served in high appointed offices are often also designated as "Hon." The late Gov. James Thompson and current Chicago Mayor Lightfoot are so designated on the above list. But not Dawn Clark Netsch... Newton N. Minow... Leon M. Despres... James D. Montgomery... Anita Alvarez... Thomas P. Sullivan... Dan K. Webb.... There were a number of omissions that I caught and I'm sure I missed some. But I am certain no disrespect was intended -- I'm sure I missed a few myself -- and I thought the list might be of interest.