Awards & Memorials
The Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) proudly supports and uplifts the legal community through a range of initiatives that honor the exemplary work of distinguished attorneys, judges, and public servants.
These initiatives reflect the Chapter’s ongoing commitment to recognizing professionals who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to justice, public service, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
Walter J. Cummings Award
The Chicago Chapter annually presents this award to an attorney for excellence in pro bono service as nominated alternately by the judges of the Seventh Circuit and the Northern District.
The award is given in the name of longtime chapter board member and judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the late Walter J. Cummings.
Kathryn Smith Matkov Award
The Chicago Chapter annually awards an attorney or judge for their lifetime dedication to excellence and public awareness on critical societal issues, especially concerning children, the aged, and minorities. This award honors Past President Kathryn Smith Matkov, who tragically passed away from cancer shortly after her presidency, recognizing her commitment to improving conditions for these groups.
Frank J. McGarr Award
The Chicago Chapter annually presents this award to an attorney for distinguished federal government service.
The award is given in the name of the late Chicago Chapter Past President Frank J. McGarr (1921-2012), a U.S. district court judge and former first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Milton Gordon Award
The Chicago Chapter annually presents the Milton Gordon Award for distinguished federal government service by an attorney under the age of 40 or in practice for less than ten years. The award is given in the name of the late Milton Gordon, a distinguished attorney who spent his career in service to state and local governments.
The Lefkow Fellowships at Northwestern Law School
In September 2006, the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association presented an endowment to Northwestern University School of Law to honor the memory of Michael Francis Lefkow. Mr. Lefkow was a distinguished civil rights lawyer and champion of the poor and underserved. The Chicago Chapter established the Lefkow Public Interest Fellowship at the alma mater of both Michael and Judge Lefkow to provide law students with paid summer internships to represent the poor and vulnerable and to participate in projects designed to promote a fair and independent judiciary.