NIU Law proudly boasts more than 50 sitting judges among its 3,000 graduates – an impressive ratio, especially for a relatively young law school. While most are concentrated in Cook County and surrounding judicial circuits, NIU Law graduates also serve in courtrooms in Indiana, Michigan, Nevada and Hawaii. The following are a sampling of NIU Law’s graduates in the judiciary:
Hon. Gloria Coco, ‘78Supervising Judge, Domestic Violence Section, 1st Municipal District, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
First female president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers
Hon. Rodney W. Equi, ‘79Presiding Judge, Domestic Relations Division, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Wheaton, Illinois
Hon. Patricia Martin-Bishop, ‘85Presiding Judge, Child Protection Division, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Member, Special Supreme Court Committee on Child Custody Issues
Member, Special Supreme Court Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Sexual Orientation Awareness
Hon. Sharon Prather, ‘79Presiding Judge, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Woodstock, Illinois
First female presiding judge in McHenry County
Hon. Kandra Robbins, ‘93Judge, Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribal Court, Michigan
Hon. Victoria Rossetti, ‘79Presiding Judge, Felony Division, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Waukegan, Illinois
First female presiding judge in the Juvenile Division
Recipient of the Benedict J. Ori Award and the Fred L. Foreman Criminal Justice Award
Hon. Richard Siegel, ‘82Presiding Judge, Arbitration Division, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Joliet, Illinois
Hon. Bonnie Wheaton, ‘78Presiding Judge, Chancery Division, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Wheaton, Illinois
Elected to the prestigious American Law Institute
Hon. Stephen D. White, 78Chief Judge, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Joliet, Illinois
Barbara Giorgi-VellaSpecializes in family law and mediation
Named Volunteer Lawyer of the Year byPrairie State Legal Services for her work with children and families, 1998
NIU College of Law Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award recipient, 1999
First woman to lead NIU's independent governing board since its inception in 1996
Jeffrey M. LenkovAttorney, Manning & Marder, Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez LLP, Los Angeles
Television legal analyst on CBS News
Adjunct professor, Southwestern University School of Law
Clients Include: Best Buy, Cheesecake Factory, Gap, Los Angeles Lakers, St. Louis Cardinals
Rising Legal Star, 2005 & 2006
Named a “Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics magazine
Founded “Littles in Law” program in partnership with Los Angeles Big Brothers and Big Sisters to introduce disadvantaged youth to career opportunities in law that they may never have considered
Cheryl I. NiroFirst female president of the Illinois Bar Association (1999-2000)
Founding Director, National Center for Conflict Resolution Education and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Inc.
Aidas PalubinskasPreviously served as adviser to former Lithuanian president Vytautas Landsbergis and members of the Lithuanian parliament
Named Best Lawyers in America – Environmental
Illinois Super Lawyer
Illinois Leading Lawyer
Manuel "Manny" SanchezFounding partner of Sanchez & Daniels, the nation's largest minority-owned law firm
First Latino to head an Illinois public university governing board when he was named chair of the NIU Board of Trustees
Serves on numerous boards including United Community Bank, Steppenwolf and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Recipient of the Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award and the Hispanic Magazine NBC/Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Named among the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the country by Hispanic Business Magazine