Illinois judges and court employees receive recognition and awards

Illinois judges and court employees are increasingly being recognized for their dedicated work in courtrooms throughout the state. Here are some of the recent honors received by Illinois judges:

• Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II and former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert L. Carter were honored on September 23, 2026, as recipients of the Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Judges Foundation at their Annual Reception in Chicago.
• On September 12, 2026, several members of the Cook County judiciary were recognized for their judicial service as well as their service to the community at large by 3:16 Magazine and the Hunley Foundation at the "Impact" Awards held at the Historic Pullman Community Center. The members of the judiciary honored were Appellate Court Justices Nathaniel R. Howse, Jr., Bertina Lampkin, Cynthia Y. Cobbs, and Sharon O. Johnson and Cook County Circuit Court Judges Leonard Murray, Marian Perkins, Linda Sackey, Yolanda Sayre, Debra A. Seaton, James A. Wright and Timothy Wright, III.
• Joseph Sawyer to receive Karen Thorson Award

The National Association of State Judicial Educators will hold the NASJE Annual Conference on September 27-30 in Athens, GA. Joseph Sawyer, Deputy Director, Development, for the Illinois Judicial College, will be the recipient of the Karen Thorson Award, NASJE's highest honor recognizing a judicial educator who has made significant contributions to both NASJE and judicial branch education.

Have you recently received an award? Please let us know at [email protected]