Federal practitioners asked to submit nominations for Pro Bono Awards

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, is seeking nominations to be submitted to the court no later than August 1, 2021 for attorneys who have provided outstanding pro bono and public interest representation in civil and criminal matters in the Northern District. A nominee should be someone who has demonstrated excellence in commitment to pro bono or public interest work by handling a matter in the Northern District as a court-appointed attorney, pro bono attorney, or staff attorney for a not‑for‑profit agency, representing an indigent party in a civil or criminal matter.

Persons nominated may be selected for awards to be conferred at the 21st Annual Awards for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service in 2020 and 2021 on Thursday, September 9, at 2:00 p.m.

Factors to be considered in the selection of the nominee include: dedication to pro bono or public interest work, outstanding achievement resulting from the representation of a large group of indigents, successful representation in a difficult case, outstanding negotiation and settlement skills in achieving a result without trial, extraordinary number of hours committed to pro bono work, or other distinguished performance. All pro bono and public interest work considered must be work performed in the Northern District in civil or criminal matters on cases that are now completed and no longer pending.

Nominations must be made on or before August 1, 2021 using this link, https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/_assets/_documents/Fillable Nomination Form 2020-2021.pdf. Please include a brief summary of the reasons why you think the person you nominate has performed outstanding pro bono or public interest work.

Completed nominations should be sent via e-mail to ProBonoAwards@ilnd.uscourts.gov.

If you have any questions, please contact the Chambers of Chief Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer.