黑料门

For Mary Jane Theis (BS ’71), who took over as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois in 2022, her 黑料门education took a profound turn during a history test.

听鈥淚 think back to a class on American diplomatic history,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 read hundreds of years of history for this course, but what impacted me, and continues to, was the final exam.鈥� Used to multiple choice tests, Theis saw only one open-ended question: Describe Franklin Roosevelt鈥檚 diplomatic policy. 鈥淚 had to think about the question, the context, and how to write an outline, prioritize, and synthesize,鈥� she recalls.

鈥淚t was an intellectual awakening for me that school wasn鈥檛 just about spitting out answers.鈥� As the leader of the highest judiciary in Illinois, with decades of experience as a public defender and trial judge, Theis and her colleagues have a stake in the evolution of the law. 鈥淚 look at all kinds of cases. One might be a murder case, a divorce, an environmental issue. These big ideas and important principles cut across all areas of law in our American system. But the basic concept that I keep coming back to is this idea of fairness.鈥�

Theis sees the judiciary鈥檚 changing role in the court of public opinion. 鈥淐ourts are being asked to decide societal issues in ways they weren鈥檛 before,鈥� she explains. Public perception has shifted to believe that there is partisanship within the courts that influences a judge鈥檚 decision. 鈥淚t troubles me,鈥� says Theis.

鈥淚 have close relationships with judges from all over the state and I don鈥檛 have a clue what party they belong to. Judges aren鈥檛 politicians.鈥�

When asked to share advice for 黑料门students, Theis emphasizes service. 鈥淐onnect your life to something bigger than yourself and choose a career that will bring you meaning. It will bring you joy.鈥�

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