Helen C. Kinney Scholarship

In order to honor the memory, vision and leadership of Judge Helen C. Kinney, the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers has created the Judge Helen C. Kinney Scholarship. Judge Kinney was truly a leader for women in DuPage County. Judge Kinney was the first woman appointed to the bench in DuPage County. She was subsequently elected to be the first woman circuit judge, and sat as the Presiding Judge of the Civil Division. Prior to her time on the bench she practiced in the private sector, clerked for a Justice of the Second District Appellate Court and was the first female Assistant States Attorney for DuPage County. She made her mark as a delegate to the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention working on, among other issues, the Judicial Article of the Constitution.

When the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers was founded in 1980, it was in large part due to the leadership and willingness to help of Judge Kinney who never ceased to be a mentor to other women attorneys. She was always proud of her contribution in establishing our organization, and was previously recognized by the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers with its prestigious Glass Ceiling Buster Award (now known as the Inspirational Woman Award), which was presented to her shortly before her death.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Judge Helen C. Kinney Scholarship fund, please mail your donation payable to D.A.W.L. to the following address:

DuPage Association of Women Lawyers

P.O. Box 338
Wheaton, IL 60187

Donations and proceeds from DAWL fundraising are awarded as a scholarship to a woman law student each year.