Judges Foundation to honor first president Mary Jane Theis

The Illinois Judges Foundation will recognize the lifetime achievements of its founding president, Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis, during a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in the Walnut Room of the Hotel Allegro, 171 W. Randolph St., Chicago. “All of the good that the foundation has accomplished to date can be traced back to this great public servant,” said Cook County Judge Jesse G. Reyes, the current president. “We want to celebrate and honor our first president.” A jurist for 27 years after a decade as a public defender, Justice Theis served on the Cook County Circuit Court from 1983 to 1993, and then on the Illinois Appellate Court until Oct. 26, when she was sworn in to fill the Supreme Court vacancy of retiring Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald. As president of the Illinois Judges Association in 1997-98, Justice Theis was instrumental in the formation and inaugural leadership of its charitable foundation. She also has been president of the Appellate Lawyers Association, and has served on the governing boards of the Chicago Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association. Advance reservations for the Dec. 2 reception, at $75 per person, may be made through Dec. 1 by calling (312) 554-2008 or accessing www.ijafoundation.org and clicking on Future Events. Admission on the evening of the reception will be $100 per person. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be available.