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PAGE 10 | THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025
CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
A vision for bar collaboration Sonni Choi Williams President, Illinois State Bar Association
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Our service committees provide a particularly mean- ingful way to build relationships with the legal world and improve the administration of justice for all. Our service committees focus on Catholic social teachings, which are committed to building a just society, respecting human dignity and living lives of holiness amidst challenges of modern society. Most notable is the work of our restorative justice committee, which has developed into a robust service group with two main components: reconciliation and healing for those impacted by violence and conflict; and immigrant justice. Through these initiatives, the guild has fostered strong relationships with organizations such as Lawndale Chris- tian Legal Center, Precious Blood Ministry of Recon- ciliation and the Juvenile Justice Initiative, as well as the National Immigrant Justice Center, Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants and Catherine ’ s Caring Cause. By staying true to the Catholic Church ’ s teachings on loving our neighbors as ourselves and putting the needs of the poor and vulnerable first, the guild ’ s identity as Catholic is not an impediment to collaboration, but rather, a unifying factor that fosters collaboration in the strive toward the goal of “ out of many, one. ” Strive to listen, take action Jeanne Marie Wrenn President, North Suburban Bar Association
A core focus of the IJA is judicial excellence. Through our many committees we facilitate programming and provide resources that enhance the proficiency and integrity of judges. An example of our dedication to professional development is seen in the excellent educational pro- gramming we provide to both the judiciary and the bar at the Illinois State Bar Association ’ s mid-year meeting. That programming addresses current legal issues and reinforces the principles integral to the justice system. The IJA actively fosters public confidence in an in- dependent judiciary. Recognizing the importance of trust in the legal system, the association engages in outreach efforts such as judge-led school programs to educate the public about the rule of law, the role and responsibilities of judges and the importance of the judiciary. These efforts not only inspire young students but also connect with parents, teachers and administrators, promoting transparency and bridging the gap between the judiciary and the community. Preserving judicial independence is a cornerstone of the I JA ’ s mission. The association remains vigilant against external pressures that might threaten impartiality. Through our unwavering dedication to these principles, the Illinois Judges Association contributes significantly to a fair and impartial court system. Its efforts ensure that justice is administered in a way that upholds the highest ideals of democracy and equality for all. Unite to stop hate crimes Anthony “ To n y ” M. Abou Ezzi President, Arab American Bar Association
“ We have established an online discussion community. ”
Now more than ever, it ’ s incredibly important for legal organizations across Illinois to collaborate to further our shared goal of improving the administration of justice. As the largest association of Illinois lawyers, the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) has been working to develop ways to strengthen its Affiliated Bar Program and bring together bar leaders to engage in a collaborative dialogue on issues of mutual importance. Thus far we have established a robust community of leaders from specialty affiliated bar associations in the Cook County area and are working on developing a community of leaders from rural affiliated bar associations across the state. Last fall, I convened a meeting of various leaders from specialty bar associations that are part of our Affiliated Bar Program. This group has met and collaborated twice since our initial meeting, with one of those meetings involving a thorough training session conducted by staff from the ABA Center for Bar Leadership. To encourage collaboration between meetings, we have established an online dis- cussion community for this group on the ISBA Central community platform. To build off the success of our specialty affiliated bar group, we are now working to build a community for the leaders of our rural affiliated bars. This work is being overseen by our recently established Rural Practice Sec- tion, which convened a focus group meeting with these bar leaders in February to discuss various ways for the ISBA to better collaborate with them. A second meeting is scheduled for April, and work is now underway to build an online discussion community for this group of bar leaders to continue their collaborative work together. To learn more about the ISBA ’ s Affiliated Bar Program, please visit isba.org/affiliatedbars. You ’ ll find information about the program, its application and a list of participating bar associations.
“ Our commitment to inclusivity is paramount to the administration of justice. ”
“ Leadership in the legal field is essential to fostering unity and strengthening democratic principles. ”
The American Bar Association ’ s theme for Law Day 2025 — “ The Constitution ’ s Promise: E Pluribus Unum: Out of Many, One ” — seems to be entirely relevant now more than ever. As president of the North Suburban Bar Association and the Celtic Legal Society, I can whole- heartedly say that both organizations are firmly com- mitted to the foundational premise for which this country was built, that from many voices from varied nations comes one people committed to the administration of justice for all. This topic strikes a chord within me, not only as a kid who grew up in the Rogers Park community where more than 60 languages are represented and spoken. Also, as a product of Jesuit education, wherein, one of the many bedrocks of their philosophy is instilling within students the desire to be men and women “ for and with ” others. Our commitment to inclusivity is paramount to the administration of justice and our ability to join forces to collaborate and achieve our common goals of access to justice and equity for all citizens. This year the NSBA is committed to hosting two days of service within our community. In March, we spent a day volunteering at Misericordia with its amazing residents. Undoubtedly, we received far more than we gave. In June, we will collaborate with BUILD Chicago for a day of service and unity in our fight against gun violence in our beloved city. Listening to different voices and interacting with in- dividuals with varying abilities and experiences different from our own opens our hearts and minds to aid us in understanding other ’ s perspectives. As members of the legal community, we should dedicate ourselves to being servant leaders in all that we do within the legal com- munity and society as a whole. We should strive to listen and take action to protect and enhance the advancement of all people regardless of creed, color, orientation, ability or social standing to ensure that from all of our many voices everyone has the chance to achieve their dreams and live a life filled with dignity and prosperity.
The Arab American Bar Association of Illinois (AABAR) is committed to strengthening the rule of law and advocating for the rights and well-being of Arab Americans in Illinois. As hate crimes and discrimination against our community continue to rise, our role as a bar association is more critical than ever in protecting Arab Americans, a com- munity that includes people of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith. Collaboration among legal organizations that have shared values and engage in open dialogue is extremely important. AABAR has worked alongside bar associations, nonprofit organizations and state government to address hate crimes, judicial diversity and bring well-deserved recognition to the great contributions that Arab Americans bring to our communities. Through active listening, adaptability and a commitment to inclusivity, AABAR seeks to help identify common goals and bring together people of all faiths and backgrounds. The key is to focus on our shared values and interests, such as fairness, equality and access to justice, which far outweigh our differences, and come together in cel- ebration of our unique heritage while standing up to categorical discrimination. Leadership in the legal field is essential to fostering unity and strengthening democratic principles. Lawyers and judges play a unique role in shaping policies, advocating for minority groups and bridging societal divides. By championing justice and civic engagement and looking after the interest of all groups, the legal community helps fulfill the nation ’ s promise of “ out of many, one. ” Despite great progress, the Illinois legal community still has opportunities for further outreach and collaboration, particularly when it comes to mentoring our youth. Encouraging the next generation of students and young attorneys should be a primary focus of every lawyer and bar association, and this can best be accomplished by working together and affirming each other ’ s endeavors. AABAR actively supports the efforts of its fellow bar associations and launched our very first Arab American Bar Association Scholarship Foundation in 2025.
Foster relationships, spiritual growth Pamela M. Rubeo President, Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago
“ The guild ’ s identity as Catholic is not an impediment to collaboration, but rather, a unifying factor that fosters collaboration.
The mission of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago is rooted in three pillars: prayer, celebration and service. Each provides opportunities for the guild to connect and collaborate. For example, each fall, members of the legal community from all faith traditions join us at our annual Red Mass at Holy Name Cathedral to pray for all those responsible for the administration of justice. In the spring, we hold an annual Lenten Retreat that offers a framework for finding inner peace and spiritual growth. And, we have a monthly continuing legal ed- ucation program series ranging in topics from the meaning of Advent, to presidential immunity, to powerful Catholic women in the law.
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