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The 2024 Parsons Dinner Honors Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman

Sharon Johnson Coleman speaks from a podium with a seated audience gazing at her.
The University of Chicago Law School’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) honored Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois at the annual James B. Parsons Legacy Dinner on Tuesday, February 27.
Sharon Johnson Coleman gesticulates with her hands as she speaks from the podium. She wears large-rimmed glasses and a black blazer over her blosue.
Judge Coleman began her judicial career in 1996 as a Cook County Circuit Court judge, where she held assignments in the Law Division and the Child Protection Division. She was nominated by former President Barack Obama to serve in her current position in 2010.
Sharon Johnson Coleman holds a glass award in her hand, surrounded by members of the Parsons family wearing formal attire. They all smile at the camera.
Coleman posed with her award and the Parsons family: Mary Helen, Grace, and John. John Parsons is Judge James B. Parsons’ grandson.
Four students and Douglas Baird, all in formal attire, form a circle and one of the students gesticulates to Baird as the others look on.
Professor Douglas Baird speaks with students.
Three students in formal attire smile at the camera.
Law School students posed for a photo.
Douglas Baird gesticulates toward Sharon Fairley as two students look on.
Professors Baird and Sharon Fairley spoke with students at the event.
Sharon Johnson Coleman holds a glass award as Faith Udobong and Thomas Miles engage her in conversation.
Coleman speaks with Faith Udobong, ’25, and Dean Thomas J. Miles.
Sharon Johnson Coleman and three students smile at the camera.
Coleman poses with BLSA presidents past and current: Robert Johnson, ’23, Sydney Chapman, ’24, and Udobong.
Hana Abreha wears a dark blazer over a blouse as she speaks from the podium.
Hana Abreha, ’25, welcomed guests to the evening’s program.
Thomas Miles wears a suit and tie as he speaks from behind the podium.
Dean Miles provided opening remarks for the evening.
Briana Johnson wears a black blouse as she speaks into a microphone.
Briana Johnson, ’25, spoke of Coleman’s career before presenting her with the James B. Parson Legacy Award.
Grace Parsons wears a dark blazer over her blouse as she holds her phone and speaks into a microphone.
Grace Parsons spoke of her great-grandfather’s legacy in her closing remarks.
Sharon Johnson Coleman is seated in the middle of a group photo of more 40 students standing in a semi circle.
Coleman and all current BLSA members partook in what has become tradition to take a big group photo with the honoree.

The University of Chicago Law School’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) honored Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois at the annual James B. Parsons Legacy Dinner on Tuesday, February 27.

Judge Coleman began her judicial career in 1996 as a Cook County Circuit Court judge, where she held assignments in the Law Division and the Child Protection Division. She was nominated by former President Barack Obama to serve in her current position in 2010.

Previous honorees include now-retired Judge Ann Claire Williams of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (honored in 2018); now-retired Judge Bernice Donald of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2019); Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, now Associate Justice for the US Supreme Court (2020), U. W. Clemmon of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (retired) (2021); Judge Eleanor L. Ross of the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (2022); and Judge Raymond A. Jackson of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (2023).