St. Clair County Associate Judge Patricia Kievlan introduced Belleville attorney Robert E. Wells, Jr., as recipient of the 2014 Chief Judge Richard A. Hudlin, IV Memorial Award at the Law Day Breakfast sponsored by Regions Bank and the St. Clair County Bar Association.
Wells is a mediator as well as a lawyer with the Belleville firm Pessin, Baird & Wells.
The award was established in honor of the career of the late Judge Richard A. Hudlin, IV, the first African-American judge in southern Illinois. Hudlin was appointed as an associate judge in 1983. After being appointed circuit judge by the Illinois Supreme Court, he was elected by his fellow judges as Chief Circuit Judge of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.
The Chief Judge Hudlin Award is awarded to an attorney who most reflects the commitment to service and charity to the people of St. Clair County and epitomizes the best aspects of the legal community in its relationship to the society at large, according to its sponsors.
Guests present included Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, Chief Circuit Judge John Baricevic from the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, U.S. Representative William Enyart, County Board Chairman Mark Kern, a contingent from Scott Air Force Base, as well as J. R. Krausz, who was awarded the Liberty Bell Award.