Judge Kennison Gets Illinois Crime Commission Award

(The following press release was submitted to Joliet Patch)

JOLIET, IL - Will County Judge Victoria McKay Kennison announced that she will be awarded The Excellence in Judiciary Award from the Illinois State Crime Commission on Wednesday, June 20 at The Drury Lane, Oak Brook. Every year the Illinois State Crime Commission honors a member of the Judiciary who has exhibited not only excellence in the performance of judicial duties, but also a dedication to the legal community, our youth, and increasing respect for our legal system. Judge Kennison is honored for having been chosen to receive this distinguished award.

In 2011 Judge Kennison accepted the appointment as Associate Judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit. During her tenure on the bench Judge Kennison has concentrated in the areas of domestic violence, having issued thousands of orders of protection on behalf of victims. She also served as interim Presiding Judge of the Criminal Misdemeanor Division in 2017 wherein she was responsible for leadership of the numerous misdemeanor courtrooms in Will County, including offenses such as driving under the influence of alcohol.

Judge Kennison’s current assignment includes the traffic and municipal ordinance violation division as well as the “problem-solving courts” such as veterans court, mental health court, drug court and adult redeploy court. Judge Kennison is a wife, mother and grandmother and is a 21-year resident of Will County.

The Illinois State Crime Commission has noted Judge Kennison's tireless work off the bench to better our justice system. Judge Kennison has a long history of supporting local juvenile and adult diversion programs and has acted as a mentor to young lawyers and young law students as she serves on the Will County Circuit Court Externship Program Committee. She has also volunteered to train local law enforcement officers regarding the Bail Bond Reform Act of 2018, and most importantly, has trained front-line law enforcement officers on all aspects of the issuance of domestic violence orders of protection to help victims of domestic violence receive court protection as quickly and conveniently as possible.

Of particular interest to Judge Kennison is the dozens of presentations she gives to local high schools through the Illinois Judges Associations "7 Reasons to Leave the Party" program which is designed to focus our youths on the personal and legal consequences of drug and alcohol use early in life.

Judge Kennison said, "I am truly thankful to the Illinois State Crime Commission for awarding me such an honor. During my career on the bench I have always considered it to be important to take the experiences that we judges see in the courtroom, from perpetrators and victims of domestic violence, those who choose to drive intoxicated on our roadways causing injuries to others, and individuals who sadly find themselves addicted to narcotics, and use these experiences to teach others to avoid ending up before a Will County court. I believe our duty as judges not only requires us to rule fairly and in accordance with the law in the court room, but also to work outside the courtroom to educate the community in the hope of preventing the next young person from getting tied up in the criminal justice system.”

Image of Judge Victoria Kennison provided to Joliet Patch