Chicago lawyer Sullivan to receive Justice Award

Thomas P. Sullivan, partner in the Illinois law firm Jenner & Block, has been chosen as the 2004 recipient of the American Judicature Society’s Justice Award. This is the Society’s highest honor and is awarded annually to an individual, other than a sitting judge, or group that has made significant contributions to improving the administration of justice nationally. Sullivan will receive the award in a ceremony at the Renaissance Hotel Chicago on October 21. Janet Reno, former United States Attorney General, will be the keynote speaker.

Sullivan is one of the most well-respected trial lawyers in the nation. His career is marked with many profound accomplishments that have helped to improve the nation’s justice system. His many leadership roles, both as a private lawyer and public servant, reflect his dedication to the improvement of the court system.

Such roles have included co-chairing Governor Ryan’s Commission on Capital Punishment, whose report persuaded the governor to grant clemency to all Illinois Death Row inmates, led to reforms in Illinois, and contributed to the debate over wrongful convictions nationally. Sullivan also served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1977 to 1981 where he spearheaded Operation Greylord, which to this day is still the single most extensive investigation into judicial corruption in our nation.

Hailed as a "model" for attorneys who aspire to be leaders in their community through pro bono representation of the poor, Sullivan was recently honored by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and inducted into its prestigious Academy of Illinois Lawyers. Last year, he was honored with the American Bar Association's distinguished John Minor Wisdom Award for his extraordinary commitment to public service and pro bono representation. Most recently, Sullivan has served as a monitor for the Chicago Housing Authority and its tenant organizations for Phase II of the CHA's Plan for Transformation; an ambitious 10-year plan involving the redevelopment of approximately 25,000 public housing units.