Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita Garman will receive the Freedom Award from The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association at its annual Freedom Award and Distinguished Service Awards Luncheon May 9, 2014 at the Palmer House-Hilton Hotel.
The alumni association also will present Distinguished Service Awards to:
Ellyce Anapolsky (J.D. ’04), a staff attorney at the Legal Council of Chicago representing clients primarily in Supplemental Social Security Insurance (SSI) and Society Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits cases.
Associate Judge Peggy Chiampas (J.D. ‘89) serving in the First Municipal Division.
Leonard DeFranco (J.D. ’78, LL.M./Tax ’81), the principal at DeFranco Law Firm where he concentrates his practice in high net worth estate planning, corporate and personal tax-related transactions, tax controversies and commercial real estate transactions.
Judge Raymond Jagielski (J.D. ’81), presiding judge of the Fifth Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Brian J. Stephenson (J.D. ’87), a trial attorney representing defendants at trial for both major felonies and misdemeanors. He also handles general litigation cases.
The luncheon program will begin at noon at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel.
“Each year, our alumni honor outstanding attorneys at this event. This year is no exception,” said Judge Regina Scannicchio, president of the alumni association. “The work these outstanding lawyers are doing within their chosen professions, and for the community, is worthy of the recognition we bestow upon them. “
“Our committee works for months on this program to bring honor not just to our recipients but to The John Marshall Law School,” said Sherri Dzik, director of the Office of Alumni Relations. “We invite all from the legal community to this special and enjoyable event.”
Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman is the longest-serving female judge and the second longest-serving judge in Illinois. She is the first chief justice to have served in virtually every judicial capacity: associate judge, circuit judge, presiding circuit judge, appellate justice, presiding appellate justice, Supreme Court justice, and chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Garman was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2001, elected to a 10-year term in 2002, and retained for a second term in 2012. She has served as chief justice since 2013. Her duties on the court have included serving as the court’s liaison to the Conference of Chief Circuit Judges, the Committee on Judicial Performance Evaluation, the Supreme Court Historical Preservation Commission, and the Special Committee on Child Custody Cases. She has been instrumental in efforts to expedite judicial decision-making, particularly in cases involving child custody, adoption and termination of parental rights.
Tickets are $95, and donations benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Reservations are being accepted at events.jmls.edu/registration/