Since graduating from Northwestern University School of Law in 1952, Dawn Clark Netsch has been a powerhouse in the worlds of judicial, political, and civil service. Dawn has worked as a private practice attorney, a judicial clerk to Hon. Julius Hoffman, and an aide to Governor Otto Kerner. A professor of law at her alma mater since 1965, Dawn also served as a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1970 and two years later was elected to serve in the Illinois State Senate, a position to which she was re-elected five times. She also spent four years as the Illinois Comptroller.  

It was the issue of merit selection of judges that first drew Dawn to the work of the American Judicature Society. “As someone who has had one foot embedded in the political arena, I have come to appreciate that that is not how the judicial branch should operate,” she said. “It has a different role, which is heavily dependent on its credibility and acceptance as unbiased. That’s a tough assignment in today’s increasingly expensive and shrill politics. AJS understands that.” 

Since joining her formidable efforts with those of AJS, Dawn has been a leader for the Society, first as a member of the Board of Directors and then as a member of the Honorary Board. “AJS is also a way for those of us who are lawyers but don’t actively practice law to support and strengthen the programs and practices which contribute to a more accessible, more efficient, and fairer administration of justice,” Dawn said. “It is our opportunity to give back to an honorable profession which in turn, gives back to an even higher calling, the administration of justice.” 

Said AJS past president Larry Hammond, “Dawn was the guiding light for me from my first days as an AJS Board member through the years that we jointly served as officers.  She was a consistent voice of reason and goodwill on literally every justice improvement and reform issue.” 

Dawn Clark Netsch has been honored for her passionate and dedicated work in the legal and political world. In 2002, she received the American Civil Liberties Union’s Roger Baldwin Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chicago Bar association honored her with the First Annual United States Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Award. She was chosen as the recipient of the Commitment to Justice Award by the Chicago Council of Lawyers/Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, and received the Alumni Merit Award from Northwestern University and the Public Service Award from Northwestern University School of Law.

The American Judicature Society is thrilled to welcome Dawn into her new role as a Distinguished Lifetime Director, where she will join Distinguished Lifetime Director Dwight Opperman.  

“Dawn has been a tireless, creative and totally dedicated leader of AJS for many years,” said current AJS President Gordon Doerfer. “Her judgment has always kept us on track and we are delighted that she will continue to contribute her ideas and advice as a lifetime director of AJS.”

Katherine R. Ryan, Drake University journalism student and  AJS intern, contributed this article.