Benjamin K. Miller Awards

Judicial Award 2010
Honorable M. Carol Pope, Appelate Judge
4th Appellate District
Former Chair, Menard County Family Violence Council

Two Jurists Receive Awards from Family Violence Coordinating Councils
Honorable S. Gene Schwarm (left), chief judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, and Honorable M. Carol Pope (right), an appellate judge of the Fourth Appellate District, received the Justice Benjamin K. Miller Recognition Award from the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Councils at an April 6 presentation in Springfield. Illinois Appellate Court Justice James A. Knecht (center) presented the award. Named after former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Benjamin K. Miller, the award is given to honor outstanding members of the community and judiciary for their excellence in leadership and commitment to further the work of the Councils in preventing family violence. Both Schwarm and Pope serve on the board of the Illinois Judges Association; Pope is an officer in line to become its president.

Honorable S. Gene Schwarm, Chief Judge
4th Judicial Circuit
Co-Chair, Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Councils

Community Award 2008
Mark Atchison, Master Sergeant, Illinois State Police
William Warnell, 13th Judicial Circuit
Law Enforcement/Courts Core Team, 9th Judicial Circuit

Judicial Award 2007
Honorable Gloria Coco, Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
Honorable Rosemary Collins, Circuit Court Judge, 17th Judicial Circuit
Honorable Donald Hudson, Chief Judge, 16th Judicial Circuit

Community Award 2006
Community Education and Prevention Helping Services Committee,
20th Judicial Circuit Committee Co-Chairs Lisa Durzo, Joan Adams
Jerilee (Jeri) Hopkins, 2nd Judicial Circuit
James Kintz, 16th FVCC Faith Committee

Judicial Award 2005
Honorable Robert L. Carter, Chief Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit
Honorable Annette A. Eckert, Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial Circuit
Honorable James A. Knecht, Appellate Court Justice, 4th Appellate District
Honorable Cynthia M. Raccuglia, Circuit Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit
Honorable Thomas G. Russell, Former Circuit Judge, 7th Judicial Circuit
Honorable John P. Shonkwiler, Chief Judge, 6th Judicial Circuit
Special Award 2005: Janice DiGirolamo, Former Director, Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Councils

Community Award 2004
Jennifer Clark, In Touch, 20th Judicial Court
Barbara Gruca, Cook County Social Service Department, 5th and 6th Municipal Districts
Robert Kindermann, Christian County Sheriff’s Department, 4th Judicial Circuit
Marie Gibbons, Oasis Women’s Shelter, 7th Judicial Circuit
Patti Morris, Center for Prevention of Abuse, 10th Judicial Circuit
Rich Myers, Regional Office of Education, 13th Judicial Circuit

Judicial Award 2002
Honorable Bruce W. Black, Former Chief Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit

Judicial Award 2001
Honorable Benjamin K. Miller, Former Chief Justice, Illinois Supreme Court