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The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Foundation, and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), alongside the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI), have announced Justice Kathryn E. Zenoff of the Fourth District Appellate Court, as a recipient of the 2026 Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award for Leadership.
The Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award honors judicial leaders who demonstrate exceptional vision, dedication, and courage in improving the administration of justice for individuals with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders. Justice Zenoff’s recognition reflects a distinguished judicial career, characterized by transformative reforms at the intersection of behavioral health and the courts.
Throughout her judicial career—from serving as Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit to her current role on the Illinois Appellate Court—Justice Zenoff has championed practical, humane, and innovative solutions at the intersection of behavioral health and justice. Among her most notable local achievements, Justice Zenoff convened a community-wide task force that established the Therapeutic Intervention Program (TIP) Court in Winnebago County. As the court’s presiding judge, she pioneered a model that emphasized accountability and long-term stability over repeated incarceration.
Justice Zenoff’s influence extends far beyond her courtroom. Since 2010, she has chaired the Illinois Supreme Court Special Advisory Committee on Justice and Mental Health Planning. Under her leadership, Illinois developed statewide standards and certification processes for problem-solving courts, ensuring consistency, accountability, and adherence to best practices across the state. The Committee has also played a critical role in modernizing court procedures involving individuals with behavioral health conditions, including the development of uniform orders for involuntary treatment proceedings and reforms regarding the use of restraints in court settings.
For nearly two decades, she has served as a national co-chair of JPLI, a groundbreaking collaboration between judicial and behavioral health leaders dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals with mental illnesses involved in the justice system. Through JPLI, she has educated judges nationwide, helped shape policy discussions, contributed to judicial training curricula, and fostered interdisciplinary partnerships that continue to influence courts across the country.
Please join us for a virtual celebration of and policy discussion with leaders who are improving the lives of people with behavioral health needs in the justice system. The Judges & Psychiatrists Leadership Summit will begin with a ceremony to honor the 2026 recipients of the Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award for Leadership.
Register for the event here.