The Cook County State Attorney’s Office has recognized eminent attorneys and judges within the African-America community as a part of the 18-year tradition of State Attorney’s Office of granting deserving personnel the C.F. Stradford Award. A co-founder of the National Bar Association and the Cook County Bar Association and a pioneering civil rights attorney, Cornelius Francis Stradford paved the way for many African-American individuals in the legal field. Additionally, Stradford was the lead counsel in representing the African American community in a litigation case involving the race riots of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921. His many accomplishments, including his unwavering dedication to securing full and equal protection under the law for the African-America community, have, and will continuously give rise to, and serve as an inspiration for the African-Americans.
The following criteria were employed in selecting the Cornelius Francis Stradford Award recipients:
- Leadership, Honor, Integrity, and Fairness
- Community Involvement and Activism
- Charity and/or Pro Bono work
- Youth Involvement and/or Mentorship Programs
Moreover, the State Attorney’s Office provided two internship positions and honored exemplary judges and attorneys through the C.F. Stradford Award. The internship position also includes a $1,000 scholarship granted by the State Farm Insurance. Internship opportunity at the State Attorney’s Office worked towards inspiring prosecutors and other personnel to serve justice in the State Attorney’s Office.
The nominations of the C.F. Stradford Award required a letter with a detailed description and elaborate demonstration in support of the nomination of the individual. The selection committee was responsible for considering each nomination sent to the email details attached below:
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
Community Outreach Unit
69 W. Washington
20th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
The Community Outreach Unit can be contacted at (312) 603-8710
List of the C.F. Stradford Award Recipients:
2008
The Honorable Reginald H. Baker
Attorney Victor P. Henderson
2007
The Honorable Patricia Martin Bishop
Attorney Larry R. Rogers, Sr.
2006
The Honorable Curtis Heaston, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Justice Division
The Honorable Justice Shelvin Louise-Marie Hall, The Illinois Appellate Court
2005
The Honorable John O. Steele, President of the Illinois Judges Association
Professor Patricia Mell, Dean, John Marshall Law School
2004
The Honorable Marianne Jackson, Associate Judge, Juvenile Justice Division
The Honorable Michael Stuttley, Associate Judge, Juvenile Justice Division
2003
The Honorable Blanche Manning, U.S. District Court Judge
Attorney James D. Montgomery, The Cochran Law Firm
2002
The Honorable Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
2001
The Honorable William Cousins, Jr., U.S. District Court Judge
The Honorable John W. Rogers, Sr., retired
2000
The Honorable Ellis E. Reid, Circuit Court of Cook County
1999
The Honorable Earl Strayhorn, retired
Carol Mosely-Braun, former U.S. Senator
1998
Jewel Stradford-LaFontant, former U.S. Deputy Solicitor General (posthumously)
1997
The Honorable John H. Stroger, Jr., President,
Cook County Board of Commissioners
1996
The Honorable Charles E. Freeman, Illinois Supreme Court
1995
Cecil A. Partee, former Cook County State’s Attorney (posthumously)
1994
The Honorable Ann Clair Williams, U.S. District Court
1993
Randolph Stone, former Cook County Public Defender
1992
Earl Neal, former Cook County assistant public defender
1991
Cornelius Francis Stradford, Co-Founder, Cook County and National Bar
Associations (posthumously)
Updated: July 29, 2020