Each year, the Illinois Bar Foundation selects one recipient to receive our highest honor, the Distinguished Award for Excellence. The Distinguished Award for Excellence is awarded at the Foundation's annual Gala to an individual whose career and personal life exemplify their ongoing commitment to the law and the legal community. Our illustrious past honorees are listed below.




PAST HONOREES
DISTINGUISHED AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
1999
Mayor Richard M. Daley
2000
Gery J. Chico
2001
Scott Turow
2002
Mary A. Dempsey




2003
Jerold S. Solovy
2004
Joseph A. Power, Jr.
2005
Hon. William R. Quinlan
2006
Bernard M. Judge




2007
Peer Pedersen
2008
Gino L. DiVito
2009
Senate President
John J. Cullerton
2010
Justice Anne M. Burke

2011
Newton N. Minow


2012
Rudolf G. Schade, Jr.
2013
Manny Sanchez

2014
Peter J. Birnbaum



2015
Todd A. Smith
2016
Illinois Attorney
General Lisa Madigan
2017
Senator Richard J. Durbin

2018
Tyrone C. Fahner
2019
Robert A. Clifford