On December 12, 2025, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association presented a joint CLE program, "The Legal Profession: Caretakers of Democracy," during the ISBA/IJA Midyear Meeting at the JW Marriott Chicago.
Illinois Judges Association
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February 11, 2026 | CLE | Events | ISBA News
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February 4, 2026 | Events
The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and the Illinois Judges Association (IJA) co-hosted a luncheon during the 2025 Joint Midyear Meeting on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Chicago.
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December 22, 2024 | Events
The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and the Illinois Judges Association (IJA) hosted a luncheon at the 2024 Joint Midyear Meeting on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Chicago. IJA President Judge Mary Colleen Roberts presented Justice David K. Overstreet with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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January 8, 2024 | Practice News
In conjunction with the February celebration of the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the judges of the Lake County Circuit Court will be among the many Illinois judges to deliver a program to grade school students based on the popular children’s book by Martha Brenner, Abe Lincoln’s Hat.
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January 12, 2022 |
Practice News
The Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee (IJEC), a joint committee of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Illinois Judges Association, has issued a new opinion: 2021-4: Judge's Use of Photographs with Colleagues for Campaign Purposes.
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June 25, 2020 |
Practice News
The following is a statement from the Illinois Judges Association:
Recent unrest and protests across the nation resulting from the mistreatment of African Americans serve as stark reminders that racial injustice, inequity and discrimination endure throughout our society.
The Illinois Judges Association stands firmly against racism, oppression and hate. The court system not only plays a vital role in ensuring justice and upholding the law, but it is essential in guaranteeing the civil and constitutional rights of all people, regardless of color.
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October 10, 2019 |
Practice News
The Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee (IJEC), a joint committee of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Illinois Judges Association, has released answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) as a resource for judges and attorneys seeking election or retention to judicial positions in Illinois.
The resource provides answers to common practical and ethical questions asked by judicial candidates. Recognizing that many candidates may be unfamiliar with the provisions of the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct and Illinois Election Code that govern judicial elections, the FAQs are designed to help those who plan to run for judicial office conform with the applicable requirements.
1 comment (Most recent October 10, 2019) -
April 3, 2013 |
People
Illinois Judges Association President Hon. Rita M. Novak presented the organization’s Distinguished Service Award to Judge Carole Kamin Bellows on March 28 at the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago.
The Distinguished Service Award is intended to recognize judges who have demonstrated exemplary service to citizens, bench, and bar as shown by devotion to the law, efforts to improve the legal and judicial communities, reputation for honor, integrity, legal knowledge and diligent service, and otherwise distinguishing him or herself as an Illinois judicial officer.
Judge Bellows was first appointed to serve as a judge of the Circuit Court, Domestic Relations Division, by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1986. By being successfully retained by the voters, she continued to serve on the bench for 26 years. Prior to becoming a judge, she was an attorney for 26 years.
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November 29, 2012 |
Events
IJA President Rita Novak and ISBA President John E. Thies discuss events that will take place during the upcoming IJA/ISBA Joint Midyear Meeting in Chicago Dec. 13-15.
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September 14, 2012 |
Events
ISBA President John E. Thies is greeted by (from left) Illinois Judges Association (IJA) Immediate Past President, Illinois Appellate Court Justice Carol Pope, and IJA President, Judge Rita M. Novak, of Chicago, at a kickoff Wednesday announcing “Project 225” at the Illinois Supreme Court building in Springfield. This project is a special program starting the week of September 17 whereby scores of state judges will deliver 225 classroom presentations at high school civics classes statewide to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, other Supreme Court justices, government officials, and bar leaders joined Judge Novak, and members of the association, in a ceremony to explain the program and its objectives, emphasizing the Constitution’s history and contemporary relevance.