Unity Dinner - John Marshall Law School

Transcription

& Sixth Annual
Swearing-In of Bar Presidents
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Westin Chicago River North
320 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois
2008 Unity Award Recipient Honoree
Hon. Ann Claire Williams
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
2008 Advocate for Diversity Award Recipients
Aurora Austriaco
Philip L. Harris
Carlina Tapia-Ruano
Of Counsel, Peck Bloom
Austriaco & Koenig LLC
Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
Partner, Tapia-Ruano & Gunn PC
Mistress of Ceremonies
Ellee Pai Hong
Weekend Anchor, NBC5 Weekend Morning News
Sponsored by the
Filipino American Bar Association
&
®
We Thank Our Generous Sponsors
for Their Support of Diversity Within the Chicago-Area Legal
Community Through Their Sponsorship of the 2008 Unity Award Dinner
and Sixth Annual Swearing-In of Bar Presidents.
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Benefactor Table Sponsor
Patron Table Sponsor
Special Participation
Message from the 2008
U n i t y Aw a r d D i n n e r C o - C h a i r
O
n behalf of my co-chairs, Ronald Almiron and Allan Abinoja, welcome to the 2008 Unity
Award Dinner and Sixth Annual Bar Presidents Swearing-In Ceremony. Thank you for
sharing this special evening with us and over 40 area bar associations united in the celebration of
diversity. There is no other event like this, which joins together so many remarkable members of
our legal community to applaud our wonderful differences, but also to unite in our reverence to
live by the law and to ensure equal justice for all.
It is difficult to believe that one year has already passed since our last celebration, but, oh, what a year
it has been! We have all recently borne witness to the historic milestone of the election of Illinois’
own Barack Obama as our first African American president. That the son of a man from Kenya and a
woman from Kansas will soon lead our country is a ringing testament to the work done by so many
of you over the years to promote diversity, raise awareness, and overcome long-held stereotypes
and biases. The events of the past year inspire countless new possibilities for positive change.
By uniting as a nation, we have also established that through our diversity we have strength.
This is echoed in tonight’s theme: “Diversity: The Common Threads We Weave.” The promise
of America lies in its vibrant cultural tapestry, woven from the varied backgrounds, experiences,
and perspectives of our people. We, as lawyers, are keepers of this promise, pledging to protect
fundamental liberties and to safeguard the inalienable rights of all of our citizens. By coming
together this evening, we not only challenge ourselves to better our world, but we also
recommit ourselves to further these goals.
Our award recipients this evening truly exemplify these ideals and, through their important
work, have inspired us to reach new heights. Judge Ann Claire Williams of the United States
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is tonight’s 2008 Unity Award Honoree. Judge
Williams—whose career has been hallmarked by a number of incredible “firsts”—has not only
distinguished herself as a highly respected jurist on the federal bench, but has also tirelessly
dedicated herself to public service and minority concerns, working to create organizations
addressing those needs, and making a positive impact on our profession. We are so very pleased
to honor her with our highest award.
In addition, the three recipients of this year’s Advocate for Diversity Award have demonstrated
steadfast efforts to recognize, promote, and sponsor diversity throughout their careers. This year’s
recipients are: Aurora Austriaco, Of Counsel, Peck Bloom Austriaco & Koenig LLC; Philip L.
Harris, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP; and Carlina Tapia-Ruano, Partner, Tapia-Ruano & Gunn
PC. We congratulate them all on their tremendous contributions to the profession and community.
Michele M. Jochner
is a Judicial Law Clerk for
Justice Charles E. Freeman
of the Illinois Supreme Court.
Throughout her career, she
has served in various legal
organizations. She is the
Recording Secretary for the
Women’s Bar Association of
Illinois, a member of the
Executive Committee for the
CBA Alliance for Women, and
a Director for the Women
Everywhere: Partners in
Service Project, Inc. Jochner
has also recently completed
a six-year term on the Illinois
State Bar Association Board
of Governors, serving as
ISBA Secretary in 2006–2007.
An award-winning author,
Jochner writes and lectures
frequently about the law and
related issues. Jochner has
been involved with the Unity
Award Dinner for several
years, and co-chaired the
2007 event.
Congratulations are also extended to the presidents of our participating bar associations, and we
applaud your spirit of cooperation in joining together here this evening. Special appreciation
goes to The John Marshall Law School and to the Filipino American Bar Association who have
collaborated from the very beginning to create and nurture this very important event, and to our
generous sponsors for their invaluable support. Through all of our efforts, we have laid a strong
foundation upon which we can—and must—continue to build. As we celebrate unity through diversity,
we wish you the very best for the coming year, and look forward to working together in the future.
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Michele M. Jochner, 2008 Unity Award Dinner Co-Chair
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With Warmest Regards,
Message from the Dean
John E. Corkery
®
315 South Plymouth Court
Chicago, Illinois 60604
John E. Corkery
Dean
Professor of Law
www.jmls.edu
November 19, 2008
Dear Guests:
The John Marshall Law School is proud to co-host with the Filipino American Bar Association the
2008 Unity Award Dinner and Sixth Annual Swearing-In Ceremony of Bar Presidents. The upcoming
inauguration of Barack Obama as our president is a ringing endorsement of the work for diversity that
all of you have done in your organizations over the years.
I want to extend our congratulations to the 2008 honorees: Hon. Ann Claire Williams of the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; Aurora Austriaco, of counsel at Peck Bloom Austriaco &
Koenig LLC; Philip L. Harris, a partner at Jenner & Block LLC; and Carlina Tapia-Ruano, a partner
at Tapia-Ruano & Gunn PC. I commend them for their work in the legal community. Each of them
is someone I hope our students will emulate.
We at The John Marshall Law School take great pride in the many outstanding lawyers who have walked
through our doors. When the law school was founded in 1899, its founders believed in providing an
opportunity for all qualified students, regardless of their background, race, or sex. We have followed
their guiding principles enabling students from all walks of life to earn a law degree.
I am grateful to the program organizers for all the planning work that
went in to this wonderful evening. I’m sure that you all will enjoy
tonight’s program as you meet in fellowship to foster inclusiveness.
Sincerely,
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John E. Corkery
Dean, The John Marshall Law School
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Sixth Annual
Host Bar Organization
Ronald A. Almiron, President
Special Participation
The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association
Hon. Cheryl D. Cesario, President and Associate Judge, Cook County Circuit Court
Participating Bar Organizations
Advocates Society
Esther Tryban Telser, President
DuPage County Bar Association
Thomas A. Else, President
Justinian Society of Lawyers of Illinois
Mauro Glorioso, President
Alliance of Bar Associations
for Judicial Screening
John L. Nisivaco, Co-Chair
Federal Bar Association
Chicago Chapter
Paul E. Freehling, President
Kane County Bar Association
David E. Camic, President
Appellate Lawyers Association of Illinois
Michael I. Rothstein, President
Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois
Mark G. Poulakidas, President
Arab-American Bar Association of Illinois
Sana’a Hussien, President
Hispanic Lawyers
Association of Illinois
Leopoldo Lastre, President-Elect
Chicago Bar Association
Hon. E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., President
Young Lawyers Section
Michael P. Rohan, Chair
Chicago Council of Lawyers
Daniel T. Coyne, President
Chinese American Bar Association
Darryl Tom, President
Cook County Bar Association
Zeophus J. Williams, President
Nordic Law Club of Chicago
Alfred M. Swanson, Jr., Secretary
Illinois Judges Association
Hon. James R. Epstein, President
North Suburban Bar Association
Daniel E. O’Brien, President
Illinois Judicial Council
Hon. David B. Atkins, President
Pakistani American Bar Association
of North America
Malika T. Assar, President
Illinois Real Estate
Lawyers Association
Ralph J. Schumann, President
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois
Enrique Abraham, President
Illinois State Bar Association
Jack C. Carey, President
Southwest Bar Association
Michael F. Carroll, President
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Phillip H. Corboy, Jr., President
West Suburban Bar Association
Marijane F. Placek, President
Indian-American Bar Association of Chicago
Tara M. Raghavan, President
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
Hon. Jeanne M. Reynolds, President
Intellectual Property Law
Association of Chicago
Joseph E. Shipley, President
Women’s Criminal Defense
Bar Association
Gayle M. Schor, President
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Decalogue Society of Lawyers
Andrea M. Schleifer, President
Illinois Association of
Defense Trial Counsel
Gregory L. Cochran, President
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Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago
William R. Quinlan, President
National Advocates Society
Thomas M. Pikarski, President
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Bohemian Lawyers’ Association of Chicago
Mila Gloria Novak, President
Muslim Bar Association of Chicago
Junaid M. Afeef, President
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Black Women Lawyers’ Association
of Greater Chicago, Inc.
Mary A. Melchor, President
Illinois Association of
Administrative Law Judges
Stacy L. Cooper, President
Mexican American Legal Defense
and Educational Fund
Ricardo Meza, Midwest Regional Counsel
EA
Association of Corporate Counsel
Chicago Chapter
Jason L. Brown, President
Hispanic National Bar Association
(Midwest Region)
Robert K. Villa, President
Lesbian & Gay Bar
Association of Chicago
Jeremy H. Gottschalk, President
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Asian American Bar Association
of Greater Chicago
Jessica Arong O’Brien, President
Korean American Bar Association of Chicago
Hellin Jang, President
Participating Bar Organizations Contact Information
Advocates Society
Esther Tryban Telser, President
e [email protected]
City of Chicago, Department of Law
121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 600
p 312.744.1846
Advocates Society
P.O. Box 641883
Chicago, Illinois 60664-1883
e [email protected]
p 312.744.4038
w www.advocatesociety.com
Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening
John L. Nisivaco and Jessica Arong O’Brien, Co-Chairs
e [email protected]
Dolan & Nisivaco LLC
30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2900
p 312.332.7374
w www.dnlawfirm.com
ISBA
Attn: Alliance
20 S. Clark Street, 9th Floor
p 312.726.8775
Appellate Lawyers Association of Illinois
Michael I. Rothstein, President
e [email protected]
Tabet Divito & Rothstein LLC
209 S. LaSalle Street, 7th Floor
p 312.762.9490
Appellate Lawyers Association
1901 N. Roselle Road, Suite 920
Schaumburg, Illinois 60195-3187
e [email protected]
p 847.885.2410
f 847.885.8393
w www.applawyers.org
Arab-American Bar Association of Illinois
Sana’a Hussien, President
e [email protected]
Law Office of Cohen & Hussien PC
6901 W. 111th Street
Worth, Illinois 60482
p 708.361.3030
f 708.361.4207
AABAR
P.O. Box 2462
e [email protected]
w www.arabbar.org
p 312.946.0110
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Asian American Bar Association
of Greater Chicago
Jessica Arong O’Brien, President
e [email protected]
Illinois Department of Revenue
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 7-301
p 312.814.1016
AABA
P.O. Box A3782
e [email protected]
p 312.554.2044
f 312.554.9843
w www.aabachicago.com
Association of Corporate Counsel Chicago Chapter
Jason L. Brown, President
e [email protected]
PepsiAmericas, Inc.
1475 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 1300
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173
p 847.598.3000
e [email protected]
p 815.464.8336
f 815.464.8334
w www.acca.com
Black Women Lawyers’ Association
of Greater Chicago, Inc.
Mary A. Melchor, President
e [email protected]
Office of the Inspector General
Office of the Circuit Clerk of Cook County
69 W. Washington Street, Room 2500
p 312.603.0464
BWLA
321 S. Plymouth Court, 6th Floor
e [email protected]
p 312.554.2088
f 708.933.6614
w www.bwla.org
Bohemian Lawyers’ Association of Chicago
Mila Gloria Novak, President
e [email protected]
Law Office of Mila Gloria Novak
2300 W. Lake Street #100
Melrose Park, Illinois 60160
p 708.343.9119
f 708.343.9109
w www.milaglorianovak.com
w www.bohemianlawyers.org
Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago
William R. Quinlan, President
e [email protected]
Much Shelist Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein PC
191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1800
p 312.521.2720
f 312.521.2820
w www.muchshelist.com
e [email protected]
w www.clgc.org
Hon. E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., President
Circuit Court of Cook County
Presiding Judge, First Municipal District
Richard J. Daley Center
p 312.603.6132
f 312.603.4211
CBA
321 S. Plymouth Court, Suite 4S
e [email protected]
p 312.554.2000
f 312.554.2054
w www.chicagobar.org
Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section
Michael P. Rohan, Chair
e [email protected]
McDonald & McCabe LLC
225 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 2100
p 312.845.5194
f 312.845.5825
CBA/Young Lawyers Section
p 312.554.2031
f 312.554.2054
w www.chicagobar.org
Daniel T. Coyne, President
e [email protected]
IIT/Chicago–Kent College of Law
Law Offices
565 W. Adams Street, Suite 600
p 312.906.5050
f 312.906.5299
CCL
750 N. Lake Shore Drive, 4th Floor
e [email protected]
p 312.988.6565
f 312.654.8644
w www.chicagocouncil.org
Chinese American Bar Association
Darryl Tom, President
e [email protected]
Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLC
35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 500
p 312.638.0014
f 312.236.1750
CABA
P.O. Box A3998
e [email protected]
p 312.566.0040
f 312.566.0041
w www.cabachicago.org
Cook County Bar Association
Zeophus J. Williams, President
e [email protected]
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
Public Interest Bureau of the
Child Support Enforcement Division
28 N. Clark Street, 3rd Floor
p 312.345.2338
f 312.45.2202
CCBA
39 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1117
e [email protected]
p 312.630.1157
f 312.630.0983
w www.cookcountybar.org
Andrea M. Schleifer, President
e [email protected]
Andrea M. Schleifer & Associates PC
20 N. Clark Street, Suite 2200
p 312.673.7373
f 312.236.7660
w www.amslawfirm.com
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Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
Leopoldo Lastre, President-Elect
e [email protected]
Lastre Law Office
831 N. Ashland Avenue
w www.leolastre.com
p 312.850.9844
f 312.850.9835
HLAI
321 S. Plymouth Court, Suite 600
p 312.345.9200
w www.hlai.org
Hon. David B. Atkins, President
Chancery Division
p 312.603.3893
f 312.603.4557
Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago
Joseph E. Shipley, President
e [email protected]
Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery
p 312.577.7000
f 312.577.7007
IPLAC
P.O. Box 472
w www.iplac.org
The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association
Hon. Cheryl D. Cesario, President
Probate Division
p 312.603.5943
f 312.603.6721
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Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association
Ralph J. Schumann, President
e [email protected]
Law Offices of Ralph J. Schumann
901 Biesterfield Road, Suite 107
Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007-3393
Indian-American Bar Association of Chicago
Tara M. Raghavan, President
e [email protected]
Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik LLP
6 W. Hubbard Street, Suite 500
p 312.222.6340
f 312.222.6341
w www.iabachicago.org
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Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois
Mark G. Poulakidas, President
e [email protected]
Haynes Studnicka Kahan O’Neill & Miller LLC
200 W. Adams Street, Suite 500
p 312.676.7077
f 312.332.6655
HBA
P.O. Box A3069
e [email protected]
p 312.554.2095
w www.hellenicbar.org
Illinois Judges Association
Hon. James R. Epstein, President
Chancery Division
p 312.603.3343
f 312.603.6787
IJA
321 S. Plymouth Court
p 312.431.1283
f 312.554.2054
e [email protected]
w www.ija.org
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Phillip H. Corboy, Jr., President
e [email protected]
Corboy & Demetrio
33 N. Dearborn Street, 21st Floor
p 312.346.3191
f 312.346.5562
w www.corboydemetrio.com
ITLA
401 W. Edwards Street
P.O. Box 5000
Springfield, Illinois 62704
p 217.789.0755
f 217.789.0810
800.252.8501
e [email protected]
w www.iltla.com
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Ronald A. Almiron, President
e [email protected]
Almiron Law Offices LLC
475 River Bend Road, Suite 301
Naperville, Illinois 60540-5263
p 630.717.7112
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Gregory L. Cochran, President
e [email protected]
McKenna Storer
p 312.558.3900
f 312.558.8348
IADTC
P.O. Box 3144
Springfield, Illinois 62708-3144
p 217.585.0886
f 217.585.0991
800.232.0169
e [email protected]
w www.iadtc.org
Jack C. Carey, President
e [email protected]
Jack C. Carey, Attorney at Law
23 S. 1st Street
Belleville, Illinois 62220
p 618.234.2424
f 618.234.2470
ISBA
20 S. Clark Street, 9th Floor
p 312.726.8775
800.678.4009
w www.isba.org
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Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter
Paul E. Freehling, President
e [email protected]
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
131 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 2400
p 312.460.5618
f 312.460.7000
FBA
Federal Center Plaza
219 S. Dearborn Street
P.O. Box 1200
w www.fedbar.org/chicago
Illinois Association of Administrative
Law Judges
Stacy L. Cooper, President
e [email protected]
Bureau of Administrative Hearings
Illinois Dept. of Healthcare & Family Services
401 S. Clinton Street, 7th Floor
p 312.793.8616
IAALJ
P.O. Box A3505
p 847.973.2570
e [email protected]
w www.iaalj.org
p 847.806.6455
f 847.806.6465
w www.schumannlaw.com
IRELA
2340 S. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 400
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005-4508
p 847.593.5750
f 847.593.5171
e [email protected]
w www.irela.org
EA
DuPage County Bar Association
Thomas A. Else, President
e [email protected]
Thomas A. Else PC
511 W. Wesley Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
p 630.462.5901
f 630.462.5903
w www.thomaselse.com
DCBA
126 S. County Farm Road, Suite 1A
Wheaton, Illinois 60187-4597
e [email protected]
p 630.653.7779
f 630.653.7870
w www.dcba.org
Hispanic National Bar Association
(Midwest Region)
Robert K. Villa, President
e [email protected]
The Villa Law Firm LLC
40W270 B LaFox Road
St. Charles, Illinois 60175
p 630.797.7406
f 630.797.7406
w www.villalawfirm.com
w www.hnba.com
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e [email protected]
p 312.263.6493
f 312.263.6512
w www.decaloguesociety.org
Offices of Alumni Relations
The John Marshall Law School
p 312.427.2737 ext. 343
e [email protected]
Mauro Glorioso, President
e [email protected]
State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board
Suburban North Regional Office Facility
9511 W. Harrison Street, Suite 171
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-1545
p 847.294.4897
734 N. Wells Street, Suite 1
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 804
LaGrange, Illinois 60525-0804
p 708.338.0760
f 708.401.0360
w www.justinians.org
Kane County Bar Association
David E. Camic, President
e [email protected]
Camic Johnson, Ltd.
546 W. Galena Boulevard
Aurora, Illinois 60506
p 630.859.0135
f 630.859.1910
w www.camicjohnson.com
KCBA
P.O. Box 571
Geneva, Illinois 60134
p 630.762.1915
f 630.762.9395
e [email protected]
w www.kanebar.org
Korean American Bar Association of Chicago
Hellin Jang, President
e [email protected]
Cervantes & Cioffi LLP
111 W. Washington Street, Suite 1201
p 312.823.2539
f 312.884.8609
w www.kabachicago.org
Lesbian & Gay Bar Association of Chicago
Jeremy H. Gottschalk, President
e [email protected]
[email protected]
Bell Boyd & Lloyd LLC
70 W. Madison Street, Suite 3100
p 312.807.4401
f 312.827.1282
LAGBAC
P.O. Box 64933
e [email protected]
w www.lagbac.org
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Mexican American Legal Defense
and Education Fund
Ricardo Meza, Midwest Regional Counsel
e [email protected]
MALDEF
11 E. Adams Street, Suite 700
p 312.427.0701
f 312.427.0691
w www.maldef.org
Muslim Bar Association of Chicago
Junaid M. Aleef, President
e [email protected]
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
231 S. State Street, Suite 300
p 312.744.8710
w www.muslimbar.org
National Advocates Society
Thomas M. Pikarski, President
e [email protected]
Law Offices of Gordon & Pikarski
303 W. Madison Street, Suite 1800
p 312.782.9351
f 312.521.7000
w www.gordonpikarski.com
NAS
6025 N. Newburg Street
e [email protected]
w www.advocatesociety.com
Nordic Law Club of Chicago
Alfred M. Swanson, Jr., Secretary
e [email protected]
Greene and Letts
p 312.346.1100
f 312.346.4571
North Suburban Bar Association
Daniel E. O’Brien, President
e mailto:[email protected]
Winters Enright Salzetta & O’Brien LLC
p 312.236.6324
f 312.236.6426
w www.wesolaw.com
NSBA
P.O. Box 731
Glenview, Illinois 60025
w www.ilnsba.org
p 312.526.1565
Pakistani American Bar Association
of North America
Malika T. Assar, President
e [email protected]
Law Offices of Malika T. Assar
p 312.578.9515
f 312.853.0821
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois
Enrique Abraham, President
e [email protected]
Appellate Court of Illinois
First District, Division One
Law Clerk, Chambers of Justice
Denise Margaret O’Malley
160 N. LaSalle Street, 14th Floor
p 312.793.5453
PRBA
2332 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Suite 104
e [email protected]
w www.prbalaw.com
Michael F. Carroll, President
Carroll & Truesdale PC
11516 W. 183rd Street, Suite NE
Orland Park, Illinois 60467-9473
p 708.478.0200
f 708.478.8227
w www.carrolltruesdale.com
P.O. Box 141
Palos Heights, Illinois 60463
p 708.371.4930
West Suburban Bar Association
Marijane F. Placek, President
e [email protected]
Cook County Public Defenders Office
2650 S. California Avenue, 7th Floor
p 773.890.6989
WSBA
521 S. LaGrange Road, Suite 203
LaGrange, Illinois 60525-5633
p 708.352.5678
Hon. Jeanne M. Reynolds, President
Domestic Relations Division
32 W. Randolph Street
p 312.603.1260
f 312.603.6453
WBAI
321 S. Plymouth Court, Suite 4S
e [email protected]
p 312.341.8530
f 312.341.8533
w www.wbaillinois.org
Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association
Gayle M. Schor, President
e [email protected]
Law Offices of Gayle M. Schor PC
p 312.634.5000
WCDBA
p 312.634.5000
f 312.364.0444
312.364.0443
e [email protected]
w www.wcdba.org
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Congratulations to our Partner, Phil Harris, on your recognition as an
Advocate for Diversity and to your fellow honorees Aurora Austriaco and
Carlina Tapia-Ruano, and to Unity Award honoree Hon. Ann Claire Williams.
Chicago
Jenner & Block LLP
|
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Sixth Annual
We d n e s d a y, N o v e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 0 8
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2007 Unity Award Dinner
& Fifth Annual Swearing-In of Bar Presidents
Diversity: the Challenge of Change
November 15, 2007 | InterContinental, Grand Ballroom
Hon. Richard A. Devine
State’s Attorney, Cook County, Illinois
2007 Unity Dinner honorees Hon. E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Hon. Sandra
R. Otaka, and Hon. Richard A. Devine.
Hon. Sandra R. Otaka
Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Gloria Santona
Executive Vice President, General Counsel
& Secretary, McDonald’s Corporation
Hon. E. Kenneth Wright, Jr.
Presiding Judge, First Municipal District,
Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Mistress and Master of Ceremonies
Nancy Pender and Byron Harlan
Weekend Anchors and Reporters, Fox News Chicago
E
RS
I T Y:
th
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CH
N
A
E
NG
ALL
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From left, Shereen Mady of the Arab-American Bar Association of Illinois,
Mary Melchor of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater
Chicago, Inc., and Zeophus Williams of the Cook County Bar Association
await the fifth annual ceremonial swearing-in of bar presidents.
GE
of
CH
SIT
Y: t h e
C
M
MON TH
10
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EA
DS WE
R
O
VE. DIV
E
EA
Hon. Jesse G. Reyes, 2006 Advocate for Diversity Award Recipient and
Co-Chair, Diversity Scholarship Committee, and Jessica Arong O’Brien,
Co-Chair, Diversity Scholarship Committee and Unity Award Dinner
event founder.
Terry Murphy, Executive Director of the Chicago Bar Association, visits
with Dean John E. Corkery of The John Marshall Law School.
W
From left, 2007 Unity Dinner honorees: Hon. Richard A. Devine, Unity
Award Recipient; and the three recipients of the 2007 Advocate for
Diversity Award: Hon. Sandra R. Otaka, Gloria Santona, and Hon. E.
Kenneth Wright, Jr.
Honored guests (at front) Hon. Mary Ann G. McMorrow and Hon. Anne
M. Burke (2006 Unity Award Honoree), are greeted by Jennifer M.
Sender, Patrice Ball-Reed, Michele M. Jochner (2007 Unity Award
Dinner Co-Chair) and Karina Ayala-Bermejo.
Hon. Alan J. Greiman and Andrea M. Schleifer enjoy the 2007 Unity
Award Dinner event at the InterContinental Chicago, Grand Ballroom.
Hon. Israel Desierto administers the symbolic oath of cooperation
to the presidents and representatives of the participating bar
organizations at the 2007 Unity Award Dinner event.
SIT
Y: t h e
C
M
MON TH
11
R
EA
DS WE
R
O
VE. DIV
E
EA
From left, Theodore Karavidas, President of the Hellenic Bar Association
of Illinois; William Oberts, Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Young
Lawyers Section; Susanna Ortiz, President of the Women’s Criminal
Defense Bar Association; Edwin Reyes, President of the Puerto Rican
Bar Association of Illinois; and Daniel O’Brien, President-Elect of the
North Suburban Bar Association.
W
th
CH
N
A
E
NG
ALL
E DI
V
E
I T Y:
e
2007 Unity Award Dinner...continued
RS
GE
of
CH
From left, Ronald Almiron of the Filipino American Bar Association,
Hon. Theodore Sherrod of the Illinois Association of Administrative Law
Judges, and Hon. Rita Novak of the Illinois Judges Association.
Hon. James A. Shapiro, President of the Declagoue Society of Lawyers,
visits with Hon. Sebastian Patti.
From left, Anshuman Vaidya, Ann Melichar (President of the Bohemian
Lawyers’ Association of Chicago), Susan Danial, Anne Shaw (President
of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago), Sarah
Alipourian, and Herbert Sillins (President of the Advocates Society).
Hon. P. Scott Neville, President of the Illinois Judicial Council with
Hon. Shelvin Louise Marie Hall.
SIT
Y: t h e
C
M
MON TH
12
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EA
DS WE
R
O
VE. DIV
E
EA
John G. O’Brien visits with Russell W. Hartigan, President of The John
Marshall Law School Alumni Association for 2007–2008.
W
2006 Unity Award Dinner
& Fourth Annual Swearing-In of Bar Presidents
Diversity: Reaching New Heights
September 5, 2006 | The Hilton Towers, Grand Ballroom
Hon. Anne M. Burke
Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
Hon. Timothy C. Evans
Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Hon. Lisa Madigan
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Hon. Anne M. Burke is congratulated
by Hon. Mary Ann G. McMorrow on being honored with the 2006
Unity Award.
Attorney General, State of Illinois
Hon. Jesse G. Reyes
Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Anita Padilla
Special Announcer
Hon. James F. Holderman
Chief Judge, United States District Court
Northern District of Illinois
R
TY
RE
A
C
SI
E
T
N
S
NG
D IVE
HI
Robert J. Bingle congratulates Hon. Jesse G. Reyes
on receiving his 2006 Advocate for Diversity Award.
W
H EIG
H
SIT
Y: t h e
C
M
MON TH
13
R
EA
DS WE
R
O
W
Hon. Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County,
accepts his 2006 Advocate for Diversity Award.
VE. DIV
E
EA
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan accepts her
2006 Advocate for Diversity Award.
Hon. Ann Claire Williams
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
T
hroughout her career, Judge Ann Claire Williams has not only
distinguished herself as a highly respected jurist on the United States
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, she has also dedicated herself
to public service and minority concerns, and has worked to create
organizations to address those needs.
Judge Williams received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre
Dame, and began her legal career as a judicial law clerk with Judge Robert
A. Sprecher of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
She then served as an Assistant United States Attorney, trying major felony
cases. She was the first African American woman supervisor in that office, rising
to the position of Chief of the Organized Drug Enforcement Task Force.
In 1985, Judge Williams was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She was the
first African American appointed to a district court in the Seventh Circuit,
and among one of the youngest judges on the federal bench. In November,
1999, Judge Williams was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit by
President William Jefferson Clinton, becoming the first African American ever appointed to the Seventh
Circuit and the third African American woman to serve on any United States Court of Appeals.
Despite her judicial responsibilities and busy schedule, Judge Williams has continued to focus her efforts
on minority concerns, making positive differences in our legal community. As a young lawyer, she was
deeply troubled by the low bar passage rate of African Americans in Illinois. In response, she co-founded
Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc. (MLER), which offers a bar preparation program which, since
1977, has helped over 3,000 minority and other lawyers pass the Illinois exam at a rate that equals or
exceeds the average passing rate. In 1987, Judge Williams was a founding member of the Black Women
Lawyers’ Association of Chicago (BWLA), dedicated to providing professional support for African American
women in the legal profession. In 1991, Judge Williams created a fellowship program for the Board of Equal
Justice Works. Soon thereafter, in 1992, Judge Williams co-founded the Just The Beginning Foundation
(JTBF), an organization initially created to celebrate the integration of the federal judiciary, but which has
since evolved into a pipeline organization that encourages students of color and other under-represented
groups from middle school through law school to pursue careers in law and the judiciary.
In addition, Judge Williams also has a long-standing commitment to education and training, both abroad and
in the United States. Most recently, in August 2007, Judge Williams spearheaded and taught at the first Kenyan
Women’s Trial Advocacy Program, which was co-sponsored by the Kenyan Federation of Women Lawyers,
the State Department, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), and Lawyers Without Borders.
Judge Williams has received numerous awards from schools and legal organizations for her contributions
to the law and the legal community, including the Chicago Lawyer Person of the Year Award, and
recognition by both Crain’s magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times as one of Chicago’s 100 Most
Influential and Powerful Women. In 2005, Judge Williams received the Arabella Babb Mansfield Award
from the National Association of Women Lawyers; in 2006 she received the Spirit of Excellence Award
from the ABA’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession; and she recently received
the 2008 ABA’s Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award.
2008 Advocate for Diversity Award Recipient
Aurora Austriaco
Of Counsel, Peck Bloom Austriaco & Koenig LLC
urora Austriaco practices with the Chicago firm of Peck Bloom
Austriaco & Koenig LLC, focusing on real estate litigation,
mechanic’s liens, mortgage foreclosure/fraud, title claims, and special
chancery remedy cases. Previously, she was Corporate Counsel for
Indiana operations of Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG).
Austriaco received her BS in finance from DePaul University in 1987
and her JD from DePaul University College of Law in 1990.
A
Apart from her busy law practice, Austriaco has a long history of active
involvement with a number of area bar associations. She was recently
elected Secretary of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), and is a past
Chair of the CBA’s Young Lawyers Section. Austriaco also currently
serves as a board member of the Chicago Bar Foundation, is VicePresident of the Center for Conflict Resolution, and was the first female
minority elected to the Board of Directors of ATG. In addition, she
has recently completed her two-year term as the first female President of the Illinois Real Estate
Lawyers Association (IRELA). Austriaco also serves on the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee on
Character and Fitness, as well as on the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Real Estate Law Section
Council. She is an appointed member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on
Meetings & Travel, and serves as the CBA’s Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, where she
chairs the Tellers Committee. She is also one of the founding board members of the Filipino American
Bar Association, and a past board member of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago.
In addition to her practice and bar association activities, Austriaco also finds time to generously give
back to her community is numerous ways. For example, Austriaco is serving her 6th year as Chair of
the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Asian Advisory Council, and is a member of the Asian Advisory
Council for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
She is also the Vice-Chair of the Cook County Human Rights Commission and a Commissioner for
the Park Ridge Planning & Zoning Commission. Austriaco was recently appointed to the Board of
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the DePaul University College of Law Alumni Board. She is
also the immediate past President of the Asian American Institute, was a 2004 Fellow of Leadership
Greater Chicago, and previously served as Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Chicago.
Austriaco is also a frequent speaker at CLE conferences for numerous groups, and she co-authored
House Closing Repairs and Dream Home Nightmares, which appeared in the ABA Journal.
As a result of her outstanding accomplishments, Austriaco was named twice as “100 Women Making
a Difference” by Today’s Chicago Woman. In 2006, Austriaco received the CBA Alliance for Women’s
Alta Mae Hulett Award, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Law Award, and the
Quezon City Science High School’s Outstanding Alumni (Philippines) Award.
Austriaco is married to Dr. Jerome Austriaco and has two girls, Danielle and Isabelle.
Philip L. Harris
Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
P
hilip L. Harris is a partner in Jenner & Block’s Chicago office.
He is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and its
Business Litigation, Products Liability and Mass Tort Defense, and
Class Action Litigation Practices. He is also a member of Jenner &
Block’s Management Committee. Harris focuses his practice on the
defense of substantial and complex product liability, mass tort, and
commercial cases for large corporate entities. He serves as national
and regional trial counsel for General Motors Corporation in a variety
of product liability and commercial disputes.
Throughout his 25-year career, Harris has made a measurable, national
impact in terms of serving his corporate clients and providing leadership
in the efforts to increase the number of minority attorneys in law firms
and the legal profession as a whole. In his recently published article for
Chicago Lawyer magazine, “Confronting Race: A Black Partner Calls for Real Change,” Harris
discusses the status of black partners in law firms and the issue of race within the legal profession.
As a result of the publication and his career-long efforts to advance diversity in the legal profession,
Harris has been invited to speak at numerous events throughout the country. The article will also be
included as a chapter in an upcoming fourth edition of Lawyers and the Legal Profession, published
by Matthew Bender. In addition, Harris serves as a board member of the Chicago Committee on
Minorities in Large Law Firms.
Harris has been active in numerous civic organizations throughout his professional career. Currently,
he serves on the Board of the Nature Conservancy, Alaska Chapter, the Board of Trustees and
Executive Committee for Northwestern University, and the Chicago Zoological Society Board of
Trustees. Harris is also the Chair of the Board of Trustees Students Affairs Committee for
Northwestern University, and has served as Vice-Chairman of the Leadership Council of the
Chicago Public Education Fund. He is a Fellow of The Aspen Institute’s Henry Crown Leadership
Program and a Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago.
Harris’ accomplishments have also been recognized by his peers. He has been honored as an Illinois
“Super Lawyer” by Chicago Magazine in business litigation and product liability defense, has been
named one of the 500 “New Stars, New Worlds” by Lawdragon Magazine, and was listed in “Who’s
Who in Black Chicago.”
Harris received his BA in political science from Northwestern University in 1980 and his JD from
the University of Chicago Law School in 1983.
Carlina Tapia-Ruano
Partner, Tapia-Ruano & Gunn PC
C
arlina Tapia-Ruano believes that through immigration, the
American Dream is continuously renewed. For more than 25
years, Tapia-Ruano has concentrated her practice in helping immigrants
and their families realize this dream, and in assisting businesses in
meeting this unique human resource need. This is also an area of the
law which has special meaning to her, as Tapia-Ruano is herself a
naturalized citizen who emigrated to the United States from Cuba.
Tapia-Ruano has written and published extensively on various topics
related to immigration law, and is a frequent lecturer on these issues to
attorneys across the country. She has participated as a faculty member
in the American Immigration Law Foundation’s Litigation Institute,
and was an adjunct professor of immigration law for several years at
DePaul University College of Law and IIT/Chicago–Kent College of
Law. Tapia-Ruano has also publicly advocated for immigration reform, and has testified before the
United States Congress regarding the USA PATRIOT Act. She also has appeared on television and
radio programs to inform the public of new immigration law developments.
In 2006, Tapia-Ruano was the first Hispanic to ever be elected President of the American Immigration
Lawyers Association (AILA), a national bar association with over 11,000 members who are attorneys,
law professors, and law students. Tapia-Ruano also serves as a Commissioner on the American Bar
Association (ABA) Immigration Law Section, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Comptroller
General for the Government Accountability Office (GAO). She is also the past Chair of both the
Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Immigration Section, and the Chicago Bar Association
(CBA) Section on Immigration Law.
Tapia-Ruano has also been recognized by her peers as an expert in her field. She is listed in
Woodward/White, Inc., The Best Lawyers in America and has been honored as a “Top Lawyer”
by the Illinois Leading Lawyers Network. She was also recently profiled in the Chicago Magazine
February 2008 edition as a “Super Lawyer” in Illinois.
Tapia-Ruano received her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan University,
and her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. She has also been awarded an
Honorary Doctorate of Law degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Ellee Pai Hong
E
llee Pai Hong joined NBC5 News in October 2003. She is the
weekend anchor for the NBC5 Weekend Morning News.
Hong came to NBC5 from WFSB-TV in Hartford, Connecticut
where she was anchor of the number one-rated weekday morning
newscast for three years.
Prior to that, she worked as a weekday 5 p.m. anchor at WAND-TV,
in Decatur, Illinois, where she covered the Firestone tire recall that
resulted from SUV rollover accidents and the national racial debate
that ensued from the expulsions of African American students at
Eisenhower High School. She started her career in broadcast news
as a general assignment reporter at WIFR-TV in Rockford, Illinois.
Hong moved to the United States from South Korea as a child and holds a bachelor’s degree from
EWHA Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea and a master’s degree from Northwestern
University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Hong is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association. She sits on the board of the
Hanul Family Alliance and also the Chicago Children’s Choir.
Hong has taught journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and spends
significant time working for charitable causes.
She loves spending her off time with her husband, John, and daughter, Avonlea, whom she
named after a town in her favorite childhood novel, Anne of Green Gables.
Officiant of the Oath
Hon. Anne M. Burke
Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
I
llinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke has a long and
exemplary career as an attorney representing some of the most
vulnerable of society, followed by a distinguished career on the bench.
Justice Burke was elected November 4, 2008, to a full term on the
Illinois Supreme Court following her appointment in July 2006 to fill a
vacancy. She was elevated to the high court after serving on the Illinois
Appellate Court from 1995 through June 2006. Her judicial career began
in 1987 when she accepted an appointment by Governor James R.
Thompson to serve as the first woman on the Illinois Court of Claims.
Before her appointment to the judiciary, Justice Burke was a leading
advocate on behalf of children with special needs. She began her
career as a physical education teacher with the Chicago Park District,
working with special needs children. Out of that experience, she helped found the Chicago Special
Olympics in 1968. She later served as director of what would become the International Special
Olympics, hosting children from more than 160 countries.
After graduating from IIT/Chicago–Kent College of Law, Justice Burke began a neighborhood law
practice that specialized in representing the interests of children and families, including issues of
neglect, abuse, delinquency, and custody. She was appointed by Governor Jim Edgar as special
counsel for Child Welfare Services and to the Legislative Committee on Juvenile Justice. In those
positions, Justice Burke’s leadership helped reshape and improve the network of agencies working
on child welfare. Significant reforms were made in the Cook County juvenile justice system, and
better cooperation was established between the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
and the city and county law enforcement agencies, as well as other governmental bodies charged
with protection of children.
Justice Burke is a past member and interim chairman of the National Review Board of the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She is a trustee on the Board of Rush Medical Center and the
Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association and a director of the Chicago Bar Association.
Justice Burke, who has been honored with numerous awards for her positive contributions to our
community, was the recipient of the 2006 Unity Award.
Oath of Cooperation
Please raise your right hand and repeat after me:
I
, _______________, the President of ________________,
promise to uphold the ideals of my bar association as
dictated by our bylaws, celebrating our commitment
to promoting diversity, while furthering
unity among
my members and other bar associations, encouraging a spirit
of friendship and cooperation.
I further promise
the legal community, to
to promote my bar association in
provide continuing educational
opportunities, to encourage lawyers to strive for the
noble ideals of our profession, to work for justice for all,
and to serve our clients and the public to the
our abilities.
best of
is
p r o u d to
s u ppor t
Un i t y
the
2008
Award Dinner
Congratulations
to all
Honorees
and
Bar Presidents
20 N. Clark Street | 30th Floor | Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: 312.630.4000 Toll Free: 888.630.9340 Fax: 312.630.4011
www.nolan-law.com
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Special Thanks
Individual Benefactors
Thomson Reuters
Paul Shaheen
Participating Bar Organizations Table Sponsors
Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago
Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago
Pakistani American Bar Association of North America
Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association
2008 Event Chairpersons
Ronald A. Almiron
Michele M. Jochner
Allan V. Abinoja
November 19, 2008
Dear Honored Award Recipients, Bar Presidents, and Guests:
Each year, the Annual Unity Award Dinner and the swearing-in of the new bar association
presidents is always a wonderful celebration of the diversity we all share together.
On behalf of all the judges of the United States District Court, I especially want to
congratulate Circuit Judge Ann Claire Williams as the Unity Award Recipient Honoree, and
congratulate also, Aurora Austriaco, Philip L. Harris, and Carlina Tapia-Ruano on receiving the
Advocate for Diversity Award. They each deserve our thanks for their contributions and for being
examples of the best of our profession.
In the unity and diversity we celebrate, everyone involved here tonight is promoting
and inspiring others to adopt the principle of “diverse but equal and united” for our country
and the world.
Congratulations again!
Sincerely,
James F. Holderman
Chief Judge
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Message from the
Diversity Scholarship Foundation
Greetings Friends and Colleagues:
O
n behalf of the Diversity Scholarship Foundation Committee, we join the co-chairs of
tonight’s dinner in welcoming each and every one of you to the 2008 Unity Award Dinner
and Sixth Annual Bar Presidents Swearing-In Ceremony. Our committee is proud to announce
the official establishment of the Diversity Scholarship Foundation, a non-for-profit organization.
This Foundation was specifically created to benefit law schools such as The John Marshall Law
School, which has consistently demonstrated its commitment to diversity, both in its own student
population, as well as in the larger legal community. This dinner is just one concrete example of
John Marshall’s steadfast commitment, as it has supported this event since it began back in 2003.
With the establishment of this Foundation, we hope to obtain more charitable contributions to
fulfill our mission of promoting diversity within the legal community in various efforts. Those
efforts include: 1) awarding funds to law schools that actively promote diversity within its student
within their student bodies; 3) investing in programs that educate high school
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students about the law and the process of becoming a lawyer; and 4) providing for
tutoring and mentoring to law school students who encounter academic challenges.
Congratulations to all Bar Presidents and our honorees this evening: the 2008 Unity
Award Recipient Honoree, Hon. Ann Claire Williams; and the three Advocate for
Diversity Award Recipients, Aurora Austriaco, Philip L. Harris, and Carlina Tapia-Ruano.
We honor them for their continued participation and hard work at unifying and diversifying our
legal community. Together, we can build upon the progress that our predecessors have achieved
in furthering diversity, and we hope that you will support our efforts to further recognize,
promote, and sponsor diversity.
We sincerely appreciate your support of diversity within our legal community, and we wish you
the very best for the upcoming year. We look forward to working together with you in the future.
Warmest Regards,
Jessica Arong O’Brien
Aurora Austriaco
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Co-Founders, Diversity Scholarship Foundation, NFP
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population; 2) awarding scholarships to those law school students who promote diversity
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D I V E R S I T Y A N D O P P O RT U N I T Y
at The John Marshall Law School have been our driving principles since
our founding in 1899. Our commitment to recruit and support minority
and under-represented students continues today. We consider our diverse
student body one of the hallmarks of The John Marshall Law School.
Our alumni ranks of attorneys, judges, public servants, and members
of the business community reflect upon our commitment to educate
students from all backgrounds. We place an emphasis on opportunity
because we believe a diverse bar serves the greater good and works to
uphold the rule of law for people everywhere.
®
315 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, Illinois 60604