Notable Diverse Alumni
The Law School has a long history of access and opportunity, and its 120-year legacy is interwoven with the journeys and accomplishments of its students and faculty. Almost immediately after the law school opened in 1899, our alumni were trailblazing new opportunities and accomplishing "firsts" across the legal landscape. We want to share a few of our notable and diverse alum to highlight their stories. They not only made significant contributions to the legal profession, but they also made significant contributions to our communities and our nation. We hope their stories inspire you.
Notable Diverse Alumni Heading link
James Randle (1904)
James Randle (1904)
First Black Law Graduate
William E. Rodriguez (1912)
William E. Rodriguez (1912)
First Hispanic Law Graduate
Pearl Hart (1914)
Pearl Hart (1914)
“Guardian Angel of Chicago’s Gay Community”
Edith Sampson (1925)
Hon. Edith Sampson (1925)
First Black U.S. Delegate to the U.N.
First Black Woman Elected Judge in the U.S.
Martha Cardwell (1927)
Martha Cardwell (1927)
Women’s Rights Activist
Euclid Taylor
Euclid Taylor
First Black Lawyer to Teach at the Law School
Paul Davis Newey ('40)
Paul Davis Newey (’40)
Among the First Law Graduates of Arab Descent
Shelley Da Costa ('41)
Shelley Da Costa (’41)
Author of the Law School Song
Chauncey Eskridge ('49)
Chauncey Eskridge (’49)
Associate Judge
Circuit Court of Cook County
Rep. Charles Armstrong ('51)
Rep. Charles Armstrong (’51)
Democrat, 22nd District
Illinois House of Representatives (1957-1965)
Hon. Clinton I. Shiraishi ('53)
Hon. Clinton I. Shiraishi (’53)
Former Magistrate Judge, Kōloa District Court
Hawai’i House of Representatives (1958-1960)
Hawai’i Senate (1962-1966)
Hon. Charles Freeman ('62)
Hon. Charles Freeman (’62)
First Black Justice & Black Chief Justice
Illinois Supreme Court
Ralla Klepak ('64)
Ralla Klepak (’64)
LGBTQ Ally & Activist
Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni (LLM '66)
Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni (LLM ’66)
“Father of International Criminal Law”
Hon. Timothy Evans ('69)
Hon. Timothy Evans (’69)
First Black Chief Judge
Circuit Court of Cook County
Hon. Cheryl Cesario ('81)
Hon. Cheryl Cesario (’81)
LGBTQ Former Judge
Circuit Court of Cook County
Hon. Joy V. Cunningham ('82)
Hon. Joy V. Cunningham
First Black Female President, Chicago Bar Association
Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch ('97)
Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (’97)
First Black Speaker of the Illinois House
Democrat, 7th District, Illinois House of Representatives
Carla Barnes ('98)
Hon. Carla Barnes (’98)
First Black Judge
Circuit Court of Illinois, 11th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Evelyn Sanguinetti ('98)
Hon. Evelyn Sanguinetti (’98)
First Latinx Female Lieutenant Governor
State of Illinois