NIU College of Law Wisconsin Law Society Hosts Chief Justice

March 01, 2003

DeKalb-The Northern Illinois University College of Law's Wisconsin Law Society will host Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Abrahamson will speak to students at the College of Law on Wednesday, March 26, at noon in the Francis X. Riley Courtroom.  There will be a reception for Chief Justice Abrahamson in the Thurgood Marshall Gallery immediately following her address.

Chief Justice Abrahamson will speak about the role of women in the law and how this role has changed during her legal career; she will also speak about her role as Chief Justice and, time permitting, about DNA evidence and its future. 

Chief Justice Abrahamson was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1976 by Governor Patrick Lucey.  At the time, she was the only woman Justice.  She was elected to the Court in 1979 and re-elected in 1989 and 1999.   She has been Chief Justice since August 1, 1996.

Before joining the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Abrahamson was in private practice and a member of the University of Wisconsin Law School faculty in Madison, Wisconsin.  She is chair of both the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence and the National Institute of Justice and is a member of the Council of the American Law Institute and the American Bar Association's Coalition for Justice.

The NIU College of Law's Wisconsin Law Society (WLS) was formed to afford students the opportunity to learn about the state of Wisconsin and its laws. 

 
 
For more information, contact:
Melody Mitchell
Director, Alumni Events & Public Relations
815/753-9655l
L10CJS1@wpo.cso.niu.edu