History of the Judge Joel M. Flaum Award

The leadership of the Chicago Inn of Court over the years considered ways in which our Inn could recognize persons in our professions – judges and lawyers – who made outstanding contributions to our profession and who personified the ideals of the American Inns of Court – excellence, professionalism, civility and ethics.

Judge Flaum has been one of our leaders and the counselor of the Chicago Inn of Court since its inception in 1988. During his entire professional career, as a trial lawyer, trial judge, appellate judge and Chief Judge of the Seventh Circuit, Judge Flaum has consistently lived and exemplified the ideals of the Inns of Court. It seemed natural for us to establish an award to honor leaders in our profession who have made outstanding contributions to our profession by recognizing them with an award named for such a distinguished judge and lawyer.

In accord with that tradition, the Chicago Inn of Court in 2000 proudly established the Judge Joel M. Flaum Award. The first recipient of the Award was its namesake, Judge Flaum. Other recipients of this distinguished Award include:

History of Judge Joel M. Flaum Award

  • The Honorable Joel M. Flaum, Judge of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2000)
  • Michael Coffield, Esq. (2001)
  • The Honorable William J. Bauer, Judge of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2002)
  • The Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald, retired Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court (2003)
  • The Honorable Charles P. Kocoras, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois(2004)
  • The Honorable Mary Ann G. McMorrow, retired Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court(2005)
  • The Honorable James F. Holderman, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2006)
  • The Honorable John Paul Stevens, retired Justice of the United States Supreme Court (2007)
  • The Honorable Matthew Kennelly, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2008)
  • Governor James Thompson, former governor of the State of Illinois (2009)
  • The Honorable Ann C. Williams, Judge of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2010)
  • The Honorable Thomas L. Kilbride, ChiefJustice, Illinois Supreme Court (2011)
  • Michael M Monico, Esq. (2012)
  • The Honorable Diane P. Wood, Chief Judge of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (2013)

The Judge Joel M. Flaum Award honors its recipients; it honors the person for whom it is named; and the recipients of the Award honor all of us.