Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman remembers facing barriers when she started her law career in a field that was dominated by male attorneys. She told a crowd of hundreds of friends and family members at the David S. Palmer Arena Friday that she was finally able to secure a job with the Vermilion County Legal Aid Society.
‘’When I was offered that first job I could never have imagined that I would eventually have the opportunity to serve on the state’s highest court, much less to serve as its Chief Justice. In fact, I laughed early in my career when at the courthouse one day when I was waiting for a hearing outside Judge Robinson’s office – one of the deputy clerks said to me ‘you know someday you’re going to be on the Supreme Court’. She must have seen something I didn’t recognize.’’
[This photo is Justice Garman with former Vermilion County Circuit Clerk Jerry Block.]
Friday’s gathering was to mark the official dedication of the Vermilion County Courthouse as the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse. The keynote speaker for the event was former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar.
‘’You know if we would have been doing this ceremony 100 years ago, and we would be trying to identify who was the most important individual public official from Vermilion County in the Twentieth Century – undoubtedly that name would have been former House Speaker Uncle Joe Cannon. Today, we’re honoring and recognizing 100 years later former Chief Justice Rita Garman. How times have changed,’’ said Edgar, adding – ‘’and I must say for the better.’’
And Edgar went on to praise Justice Garman.
‘’She is without doubt one of the most outstanding public officials in Illinois during the 21st Century.’’
Justice Garman recalled her days working at the Vermilion County Courthouse, both as a lawyer and a judge.
‘’When I went to the Appellate Court and then to the Supreme Court, I was certainly aware that the opinions I offered would serve as precedent for our state,’’ said Garman. ‘’That was all the gratification I ever sought,’’ she added. ‘’But to have a structure, like the beautiful Vermilion County Courthouse, named in my honor is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. My children and grandchildren, and future generations, will have a tangible reminder that I walked here once.’’
The Vermilion County Board decided back in March to Honor Justice Garman by naming the courthouse after her. Some other members of the Illinois Supreme Court, including current Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, and some current and past members of the Fourth District Illinois Appellate Court attended the dedication event.
