Chicago – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that Hon. Mary Colleen Roberts (Ret.) has been honored with a Vanguard Award by the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). Judge Roberts was selected by the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois as its honoree. The award was presented as part of the CBA’s 2025 Vanguard Awards Luncheon on April 22.
Presented annually since 1998, the Vanguard Awards honor the individuals and institutions that have made the law and legal profession more accessible to and reflective of the community at large. Judge Roberts was honored alongside 17 other Vanguard Award nominees, who were selected by their respective bar associations and legal societies.
“Judge Roberts is revered within the Chicago and greater Illinois legal communities for her advocacy and dedication to advancing access to justice for all. We would like to thank the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and Chicago Bar Association for this prestigious recognition of her accomplishments.”
Kimberly Taylor, CEO and president
Judge Roberts joined JAMS earlier this year following 18 years of distinguished service to the Cook County bench and an additional 17 years of service to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and City of Chicago. While serving within the Law Division, she presided over complex commercial disputes involving breach of contract, business partnerships, deceptive practices, employment, professional liability, condominium actions, real property and construction.
At JAMS, Judge Roberts serves as an arbitrator, mediator, court-appointed neutral and neutral evaluator. Her practice covers business and commercial, class action and mass tort, construction, employment, trust/probate/estate, insurance, personal injury and real estate matters.
In addition to being a member of Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Judge Roberts also served as the president of the Illinois Judges Association and is an active member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago and the Illinois State Bar Association. She is a founding member of the Alliance of Illinois Judges, an organization formed to serve as a resource for judges in addition to the broader legal community, including LGBTQ+ law students.
More information about the Vanguard Awards can be found here.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. With a roster of nearly 500 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS successfully resolves and manages tens of thousands of business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.
Building on this foundation, JAMS Pathways focuses on early conflict resolution, facilitation and training. Learn more about JAMS Pathways at jamspathways.com.
More information about JAMS is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and our JAMS ADR blog.