AABA congratulates AABA Chicago Honorary Board Member Sonni Williams on her swearing-in on February 11, 2025 at the Will County Courthouse by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Kay O'Brien!

Hon. Sonni Choi Williams was appointed as a Circuit Judge in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Third Subcircuit to fill the vacancy created by the election of Judge John C. Anderson to the Third District Appellate Court.

Hon. Williams' appointment is a testament to her exceptional leadership, outstanding contributions to the legal community, and continued dedication to public service and the fair and equitable administration of justice.

"I believe Sonni Williams’ professional and personal experiences make her uniquely qualified for the judiciary. Ms. Williams has over 25 years of experience in municipal law, having served as city attorney for Lockport and Peoria, covering virtually every area of the law, including civil, criminal and appellate litigation,” said Justice O’Brien in a statement. “In addition, Ms. Williams has always been personally committed to improving the legal community through her involvement with the Illinois State Bar Association, the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and numerous legal foundations. She will serve the citizens of Will County with distinction in this new role.”

Ms. Williams has been the City Attorney for the city of Lockport since 2017, serving as chief legal officer and representing the city in all cases before the federal and state courts and administrative agencies. From 2000 to 2017 she served as an attorney for the city of Peoria where she supervised the legal department staff attorneys, paralegals and administrative assistants in providing timely professional responses and legal advice, among other duties. She currently serves as President of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA).

From the Supreme Court's announcement:

Ms. Williams earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa and earned her Juris Doctor from the Northern Illinois University College of Law.

In addition to being the first woman of color to serve as President of the ISBA, Ms. Williams' professional affiliations include the Will County Bar Association, the Will County Women's Bar Association, and the Will County Black Lawyers Association. She is a board member of the Korean American Bar Association of Chicago and an honorary board member of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago. Since 2012 she has served as Hearing Chair for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, and she was previously a Commissioner of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and a Commissioner of the Illinois Supreme Court Special Committee on Professionalism.

Her awards include receiving the 2020 Alumna of the Year Award from the Northern Illinois University College of Law and the 2015 ISBA Diversity Leadership Award for her long standing, continuing and exceptional commitment to the critical importance of diversity within the Illinois legal community, its judiciary and within the Illinois State Bar Association.