CBA Record May-June 2025

CBA NEWS

Ronald Austin, Jr. Ronald Austin, a principal at Grant Austin LLC, practices in the areas of business lit igation, corporate law, employment law, healthcare law, and product liability litiga tion. He also serves on several nonprofit boards and holds leadership positions in numerous bar associations including the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys; The Chicago Bar Association, where he served as the Investigations Chair for the Judicial Evaluation Committee; Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys; Illi nois Primary Health Care Association; PCC Community Wellness Center, a fed erally qualified community health center where he has served for more than 20 years on the Board and currently serves as Chairman; University of Illinois Col lege of Law Alumni Board; and Victory Apostolic Church, where he serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Judge Fredrick H. Bates Judge Fredrick H. Bates was elected as an Associate Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County in 2020 and is currently assigned to the Sixth Municipal District in Markham. He previously served as an Administrative Law Judge and a hearing officer for over 15 years. His background also includes serving as a clerk on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, a partner at two large law firms, and president of a minority-owned corpo rate law firm. He has served as President of the Cook County Bar Association and the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms. After graduating from high school at age 15, and finishing college at age 18, Judge Bates attended Creighton University School of Law. He has served on over 20 nonprofit boards and received numerous community service awards.

2025 Earl B. Dickerson Awards T he Chicago legal community gathered to celebrate six attorneys who received the Earl B. Dickerson Awards. The awards honor the legacy of Earl B. Dickerson, among the first African American members of the CBA, whose life and career were devoted to helping others gain equality and justice. This year’s honorees are Ronald Austin, Jr., Principal, Grant Austin LLC; Judge Fredrick H. Bates, Circuit Court of Cook County; Margaret “Maggie” Mendenhall Casey, Deputy Corporation Counsel, City of Chicago Office of Corporation Counsel; Judge John A. Fair man, Circuit Court of Cook County; Presiding Judge Judith C. Rice, Domestic Violence Division, Circuit Court of Cook County; and Ami N. Wynne, Partner, Morgan Lewis. The CBA created the award to recognize minority lawyers and judges whose careers emulate Dickerson’s courage and dedication in making the law the key to justice for all. “Our distinguished honorees exemplify the strength of character and devotion to jus tice that defined Earl Dickerson’s life and career. Their dedicated service and important contributions to the legal community and the justice system help ensure that all in our community receive fair and equitable treatment,” said CBA President John C. Sciaccotta. By Ann Glynn From left, top row: Judge Fredrick H. Bates, Circuit Court of Cook County (Honoree); YLS Chair Kenneth Matuszewski, Rozier Hardt McDonough; and Judge John A. Fairman, Circuit Court of Cook County (Honoree). From left, bottom row: Judge Judith C. Rice, Presiding Judge, Domestic Violence Division, Circuit Court of Cook County (Honoree); Ami N. Wynne, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (Honoree); Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy V. Cunningham; Former Secretary of State Jesse White; CBA President John Sciaccotta, Aronberg Goldgehn; Presiding Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., First Municipal Division, Circuit Court of Cook County; Deputy Corporation Counsel Maggie Mendenhall Casey, City of Chicago’s Office of Corporation Counsel (Honoree); and Ronald Austin, Jr., Grant Austin LLC (Honoree).

8 May/June 2025