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:
- Illinois Supreme Court Justice Sanjay T. Tailor was honored in April of this year by the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago (SABA) at their annual judicial reception as the recipient of the inaugural Satyagraha Award honoring leadership, personal integrity, and deep commitment to justice. Also honored at the reception was Cook County Circuit Court Judge Debjani Desai who received the Emerging Jurist Award which honors rising judicial members who show early excellence, leadership, and community dedication.
- Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., was honored on July 29 as the recipient of the William H. Hastie Award by the National Bar Association (NBA) at the 2026 Thurgood Marshall Awards Luncheon in Nashville, Tennessee. Presented by the NBA’s Judicial Council, the award recognizes excellence in legal and judicial scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to justice and the rule of law.
- 17th Circuit Court Judge Gwyn Gulley was honored on June 25th by the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce as a 40 Over 40 honoree for her commitment to justice, representation, and community service in Rockford.
- The Hon. Walter Braud, former chief judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit Court, was posthumously presented with a Trailblazer Award at a dinner hosted by the Illinois Judicial Council on August 22, 2026. Judge Braud, who retired from the bench in 2019, passed away this month at the age of 86.
Have you recently received an award? Please let us know at communications@illinoiscourts.gov