The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Assembly on December 10, approved a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Illinois Judges Association. 

The full resolution is available online  and below. 

WHEREAS, The Illinois Judges Association was established on December 4, 1971, and celebrated its 50th Anniversary on December 4, 2021;

WHEREAS, The Illinois Judges Associations benefits the Illinois legal community through its mission to: (1) support judicial excellence and professional development and judicial education; (2) foster public confidence in an independent judiciary; (3) work to preserve the independence of the judiciary by educating the public and students; and (4) promote a diverse judiciary that administers justice in a fair and impartial court system;

WHEREAS, The Illinois Judges Association benefits Illinois’ citizens through its in-school educational programs, which have been re-tooled into a virtual format that makes it easier for judges across the state to participate—especially benefiting counties with a limited number of judges;

WHEREAS, The Illinois Judges Association has recently launched a pro bono program in conjunction with the Public Interest Law Initiative, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride (ret.) and Hon. Julie Katz, that aims to train retired judges to do more pro bono work and to show sitting judges how they can support bro bono activities;

WHEREAS, The Illinois Judges Association is currently led by longtime ISBA member Hon. Barbara Crowder
(ret.), who currently serves as the 50th President and is the Association’s tenth female President;

WHEREAS, for the past 35 years, the Illinois Judges Association has joined the ISBA in planning, organizing,
and holding the two associations’ Joint Midyear Meeting;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois State Bar Association hereby applauds and congratulates The Illinois Judges Association on the celebration of its 50th anniversary; and

FURTHER, that a copy of this Resolution will be suitably framed and formally presented to The Illinois Judges Association.