ISBA honors Justice Hutchinson, Judge Stuart at Celebrating Women Luncheon

The Illinois State Bar Association presented "Celebrating Women in the Profession: Reach Out and Build Our Future" on March 9. ISBA President John O’Brien presented Presidential Commendation Awards to 2nd District Appellate Justice Susan F. Hutchinson and Cook County Circuit Judge Jane L. Stuart before a crowd of over 200 at the Standard Club in Chicago. “Today we honor the women who have advanced our profession, expanded our network and are doing the work that women do so well – sharing the benefits of practicing law with the next generation,” President O’Brien said. Judge Stuart thanked the bar associations for encouraging diversity and making her feel welcome throughout her career. Barbara Howard, President of the State Bar of Ohio, delivered a rousing keynote address. “As a woman in the profession, one of the things I appreciate is that we can come together to do more collectively than as individuals,” Howard said. “We must appreciate our past as we see how many women are in the profession today. This change is encouraging and it’s thanks to women who were here 30 years ago that were trailblazers. Judge Stuart and Justice Hutchinson are those trailblazers.” Co-Sponsoring Organizations of the event included:

• Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago
• Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women
• DuPage Association of Women Lawyers
• East Central Illinois Women Attorneys Association
• Will County Women’s Bar Association
• Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
• Women’s Bar Association of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit