At the inaugural Chicago Impact Awards, presented by The Hunley Foundation, some of Chicago’s most distinguished members of the judiciary were recognized for their decades of service, community awareness, and dedication to fairness and the rule of law.
Jesse White Opens the Evening
“I am here to say thanks to The Hunley Foundation for putting together such a wonderful program.”
Illinois Appellate Court Justices
Justice Nathaniel R. Howse, Jr.
A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago for both his undergraduate and law degrees, Justice Howse spent 22 years in private practice before being elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1998. In 2009, he was elevated by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District — a position he was subsequently elected to in 2012. Throughout his tenure, Justice Howse has authored numerous opinions shaping Illinois jurisprudence and has remained actively committed to judicial education and community outreach.
Justice Bertina E. Lampkin
A valedictorian of DuSable High School, Justice Lampkin holds a B.A. from Roosevelt University and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Her judicial career has spanned Traffic Court, Domestic Violence Courts, Night Narcotics Court, and the Criminal Division. As an Appellate Court Justice, she served as Chair of the Executive Committee and Presiding Justice, and sat on five Illinois Supreme Court committees — chairing three. She taught judges across various areas of law for 25 years and is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Justice Sharon Oden Johnson
Currently the Presiding Justice of the 5th Division of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, Justice Johnson has been a proven leader in the judiciary since 2010. She has served as co-chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, as a judicial mentor, and as president of the Illinois Judicial Council. She is deeply invested in the communities she serves, contributing regularly to legal associations, schools, non-profits, and churches throughout Chicagoland.
Circuit Court Judges
Judge Linda Sackey
A Chicago native and Lane Tech alum, Judge Sackey’s academic journey took her to Princeton University, where she studied Sociology and African American Studies, and then to the University of Chicago Law School. She has served on the Circuit Court of Cook County since January 2025, bringing over two decades of legal experience from private practice, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, and the Illinois Supreme Court. A lifetime member of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association, she serves as a mentor and civic leader through the Cook County Bar Association.
Judge Debra A. Seaton
Currently assigned to the Chancery/Mortgage Foreclosure Division, Judge Seaton began her judicial career with an appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court. Before taking the bench, she handled complex criminal and death penalty cases. A faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, she teaches trial advocacy both nationally and internationally, volunteers to judge moot court and mock trials, and contributes a legal column to the South Suburban News.
Judge Marian E. Perkins
A Chicago native, Howard University Law graduate, and former Cook County prosecutor, Judge Perkins presides over residential and commercial mortgage foreclosure cases in the Chancery Division. A faculty member of the Illinois Judicial College, she is active with Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth, the Rainbow PUSH Oratorical Society for Youth, and serves as a mentor to pre-law and law students. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Judge Yolanda H. Sayre
Appointed to the Circuit Court of Cook County in February 2024, Judge Sayre has served in Traffic, Domestic Violence, and Housing divisions. Before the bench, she served as legal counsel for the Illinois State Police and as an attorney for the Chicago Police Department’s Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform, where she served as the City’s expert witness on Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment issues. Her career also includes private practice and service as an Administrative Law Judge.
Judge James A. Wright
An Associate Cook County Circuit Court Judge since 2018, Judge Wright currently oversees the Mortgage Foreclosure Section. He is also a CPA and holds an MBA — a rare combination in the judiciary. Among his most notable achievements, he kept an eviction courtroom operational during the COVID pandemic and launched a free Early Resolution Program for self-represented litigants. A former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Executive Inspector General for Illinois, and Chief of Staff for the Chicago Board of Education, Judge Wright is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Judge Lisa M. Taylor
Elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County in November 2022, Judge Taylor presides over cases in the Child Protection Division. A graduate of Augustana College and John Marshall Law School (now UIC), she spent over 20 years in private practice as a trial attorney before taking the bench. She has dedicated much of her personal time to organizations protecting children’s interests, including service as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and participation in Cook County’s “Know Your Rights” seminars.
Judge Timothy W. Wright III
A native of Compton, California, Judge Wright serves at the Juvenile Justice Center, bringing a remarkable breadth of experience to the bench. He holds degrees from Claremont McKenna College, UCLA School of Law, and a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary. He served in three presidential administrations, was the first African American Commissioner of Economic Development under Mayor Harold Washington, and participated in the constitutional negotiations in South Africa that contributed to the release of Nelson Mandela. A husband and father of five, he brings faith, history, and purpose to every courtroom.
Judge Leonard Murray With more than 19 years on the Circuit Court of Cook County — including nearly a decade as supervising judge of the Housing Division — Judge Murray is a DuSable High School graduate who went on to earn a degree in Economics from St. Francis University and graduate with Dean’s List honors from Northwestern University School of Law. A past president of the Cook County Bar Association and past Treasurer of the National Bar Association, he has received numerous honors including two NBA Presidential Awards and the Illinois Bar Association Board of Governors Award.
“This was the perfect place to show young adults how to do business in our community — and at the same time, honor trailblazers. They need to be in the same room with people who have achieved so much.”
The event tonight was made possible through generous donations from all in attendance.
“The funds raised will support our free media workshops, designed to assist young individuals aged 16 to 22 in entering fields such as journalism, content creation, and reporting.”
These judges represent the very best of Chicago’s legal community — decades of service, sacrifice, and an unshakeable dedication to justice for all. The Hunley Foundation was proud to honor them at the first Chicago Impact Awards.
