In 2018, the Standing Committee for the Law Related Education for the Public of the Illinois State Bar Association (“LRE”) developed and proposed an award to “annually honor up to three individuals who have helped educate the public about civics, especially our legal system.” Then in 2019, the first round of ISBA Civics Education Awards was presented.

In 2020, awardees in the second round of awards have been named, and include:

Hon. Justin M. Hansen is being recognized with an ISBA Civics Education Award in 2020 for his work with ISBA Lawyers in Classrooms and the ISBA Speakers Bureau. Judge Hansen sits as a Circuit Court Judge in the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, which is located in McHenry County in Upstate Illinois. Judge Hansen spent years in private practice before being appointed to his new ‘calling’ by the Supreme Court of Illinois in June of 2019. Over the past year, Judge Hansen has made numerous presentations to students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and to various community groups.

Kathleen (“Katy”) Karayannis is also being recognized with an ISBA Civics Education Award in 2020 for her work with the ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational. A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, Katy practices law in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. While at the College of Law, Katy volunteered to help the Invitational as a Member of the Illinois Trial Team and as a Law Student, and has continued in the ‘real world’ as an assistant state’s attorney, devoting literally countless hours to insure the mock trials happen.

Kelsey Chetosky will also receive a 2020 ISBA Civics Education Award for her work with the ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational. Kelsey also graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law, and is an Associate with Kirkland and Ellis, one of the largest law firms in Chicago (and the world!). While at the College of Law, Kelsey volunteered to participate in the Invitational as a Member of the Illinois Trial Team and as a Law Student. She has worked with hundreds of high school students through the Law Test which is administered annually in conjunction with the Invitational.

Congratulations to these three civics educators!

Through March of each fiscal year of the ISBA, nominations for the ISBA Civics Education Award are received through www.ISBA.org so if you know someone who fits this special category of dedicated volunteers, don’t hesitate to submit a nomination. While self-nomination is allowed, it has yet to be utilized, with most nominations coming from those who have worked with or experienced another’s work in the civics education arena.

Judge Michael Chmiel serves as a circuit judge in the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, which is located in McHenry County, Illinois. He is a past chair of Law Related Education for the Public and serves as chair of its Civic Education Subcommittee.