By: Tracey L. Schroeder
The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) proudly hosted its 27th Annual Judicial Reception on March 5 at the beautiful Chicago Cultural Center. The evening brought together members of the bench and bar for a memorable celebration of leadership, excellence, and the advancement of women in the legal profession.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Myra Bradwell Woman of Achievement Award, the WBAI’s highest honor, named for trailblazer Myra Bradwell, the first woman to pass the Illinois bar. The award recognizes exceptional attorneys whose careers reflect outstanding professional achievement and dedication to the advancement of women in the law.
This year, the WBAI was proud to honor:
• Virginia M. Kendall, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• Bonnie M. Wheaton, Chief Judge of the DuPage County Circuit Court (18th Judicial Circuit)
The program also included the presentation of the Mary Heftel Hooton Award, established in memory of Mary Heftel Hooton to recognize judges who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing women lawyers.
The WBAI proudly recognized the following distinguished jurists:
• Charles S. Beach, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County
• Daniel L. Kennedy, Chief Judge of the Will County Circuit Court (12th Judicial Circuit)
• Daniel B. Shanes, Chief Judge of the Lake County Circuit Court (19th Judicial Circuit)
• Robert K. Villa, Chief Judge of the Kane County Circuit Court (16th Judicial Circuit)
The evening was filled with inspiration, community, and celebration as colleagues and friends gathered to recognize these outstanding leaders of the bench and bar. The WBAI is deeply grateful to our honorees, attendees, and supporters for making the evening so special.
We are grateful to our event sponsors whose generosity helped make this special evening possible!
This article was originally published in the WBAI Spring 2026 Newsletter on pages 45-49.