Illinois Judges Receive Recognition and Awards

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

• Cook County Circuit Court Judge Fredrick Bates will be honored on November 5, 2026, by the Illinois Judicial Council, Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., and Black Men Lawyers' Association at their Annual November Joint Dinner as the recipient of the 2026 Trailblazer Award for his contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal field.
• The Hon. Ray McKoski (Ret.) of Lake County was recently the recipient of the Illinois State Historical Society's 2026 Award of Superior Achievement in the scholarly publications category for his book, David Davis, Abraham Lincoln's Favorite Judge (University of Illinois Press, 2025).

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