2005 Stradford Awards Honorees:
Circuit Court Judge John Steele and Professor Patricia Mell

Cook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine honored Circuit Court Judge John O. Steele and professor Patricia Mell with the State's Attorney's annual C.F. Stradford Awards. The awards are given annually in honor of C.F. Stradford, a pioneering civil rights attorney and one of the founders of the National Bar Association. The awards ceremony, now in its 15th year, is held in commemoration of African-American Heritage Month and salutes African-American attorneys who are outstanding professionals and citizens.

"Judge Steele is committed to bringing a new and different perspective of the judicial system to the community," Devine said.

Judge Steele was installed as president of the Illinois Judges Association in June 2004.

Fellow award recipient Dean Patricia Mell serves as the 11th dean of the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. In July 2003, she became the first woman and the first African-American to lead that institution, which was founded in 1899. Prior to John Marshall, Dean Mell taught at Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law, where she joined the faculty in 1992 as associate dean for academic affairs.

"Dean Mell exemplifies the diverse and innovative character of the John Marshall Law School," Devine said.

In conjunction with the Stradford Awards, two local students are given $1,000 scholarships donated by State Farm Insurance. This year's student scholarship winners are Alyson Bradley, a graduate of Eisenhower High School now attending DePaul University, and Kayla Griffith, a graduate of William Fremd High School now attending Boston University.

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