Third Circuit Chief Judge David Hylla received the John P. Shonkwiler Distinguished Service Award for his work on the Conference of Chief Judges at a meeting May 17 in Chicago. Chief Judge Hylla became Chief Judge and joined the Conference in May 2013 and served as Chair of the Conference from January 1, 2018 to June 3, 2019 and as Vice-Chair from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. Michael Kramer, Chief Judge of the 21st Circuit who was unanimously elected as the next Chair of the Conference, presented Hylla with the award. Chief Judge Susan Clancy-Boles of the 16th Circuit continues in her role as Vice-Chair.

The John P. Shonkwiler Award has been awarded to Chief Judges at the end of their service on the Conference of Chief Judges since September 2012, following the passing of Judge Shonkwiler in July of that year. Judge Shonkwiler was Chief Judge in the 6th Circuit for over 18 years, from January 1994 to April 2012.