Restoring Lives Reception Raises Nearly $110,000 for Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation
On the evening of May 19th, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter and Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation hosted the 2026 Restoring Lives Reception at the Union League Club of Chicago, bringing together nearly 190 members of the federal legal community. Overall, this event celebrated second chances in our society and those who make them possible.
The Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation funds the Northern District of Illinois Restorative Justice Courts. In doing so, it provides direct grants to participants for rent, utilities, medical expenses, and other essential needs. The goal is straightforward: help people build stable, crime-free, and drug-free lives after federal incarceration. Ultimately, that mission drew 24 sponsors to the 2026 Restoring Lives Reception, generating just under $110,000 in sponsorship support alone, not including ticket sales. From platinum-level firms to local Chicagoland practices, the breadth of support reflected the legal community's genuine investment in the Foundation's work.
Hon. Sunil R. Harjani, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois and FBA Chicago Chapter President, opened the program. He introduced Hon. Susan E. Cox (ret.), Executive Director of the Foundation and a former Magistrate Judge who served on the James B. Moran Second Chance Re-Entry Court for ten years and founded the Veterans Treatment Court. During the event, Judge Cox served as Master of Ceremonies, acknowledging sponsors, donors, judges, and distinguished guests while sharing the history, impact, and future goals of the Foundation's court programs.
The Mission Behind the Restoring Lives Reception
The Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation operates at the intersection of justice and human dignity. Its court programs, including The Second Chance Re-Entry Court, Veterans Treatment Court, and The Hon. Ruben Castillo SOAR Court, give participants access to structure, accountability, and direct support during one of the most difficult transitions a person can face. The Foundation does not stop at supervision. It provides grants for rent, utilities, medical expenses, food, and other essential needs, meeting participants where they are and helping them build sustainable lives.
What makes the model distinct is its philosophy. Judges, prosecutors, and the full court team function as a support system, not just an enforcement mechanism. Participants are treated as people capable of growth and change. That shift in approach, from punitive to restorative, is at the heart of everything the Foundation does. The 2026 Restoring Lives Reception gave the broader legal community a direct opportunity to invest in that model. The nearly $110,000 raised through sponsorships will fund grants and services that reach participants at critical moments, the kind of support that can mean the difference between stability and setback. With 24 sponsors represented at the event, the Foundation enters the second half of 2026 with strong momentum and a growing network of advocates committed to its mission.
Graduates Take the Stage at the 2026 Restoring Lives Reception
The evening's most powerful moments came during a panel discussion featuring graduates of the SECOND CHANCE and SOAR court programs, moderated by Will Smith, a retired probation officer and current Foundation contractor.
Maurice Bowman and Thomas Ross, both 2026 graduates of SECOND CHANCE court, spoke about life after serving federal sentences of nearly twenty years. Both men credited the structure and accountability the court provided as essential to staying on track after release. They described what it meant to stand before judges and prosecutors who offered guidance and support. For the first time, the criminal justice system treated them as people capable of change.
Mr. Ross has since earned a college degree and is now working toward his master's while helping others in his community avoid addiction and incarceration. Mr. Bowman spent years working as a security guard before launching his own clothing line. He also thanked the Foundation for providing food assistance during the federal government shutdown, when SNAP benefits were suspended.
Ivory Aldridge, a 2026 graduate of SOAR court, spoke about the fear that her money laundering charge would take her away from her three children. She echoed Mr. Ross and Mr. Bowman, saying the court team saw her as a person rather than just an offender. She pointed to the therapy available through the program as a critical part of her path to success.
24 Chicago Law Firm Sponsors Made the 2026 Reception Possible
The 2026 Restoring Lives Reception drew deep support from across the Chicago legal community, with 24 firms stepping up across four sponsorship tiers. Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP served as Platinum Sponsors. Gold Sponsors included Greenberg Traurig LLP, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, Mayer Brown, Jones Day, and Jenner & Block LLP. Silver Sponsors were Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Goodman Law Office LLC, Kreisman Law Offices, and Goldberg Kohn.
Bronze Sponsors included ArentFox Schiff, Eimer Stahl LLP, Bedi & Singer LLP, Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel PC, The Law Offices of Darryl A. Goldberg, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP, Esbrook P.C., Cheronis & Parente LLC, Duane Morris LLP, Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC, and McDermott Will & Schulte. Each sponsor played a direct role in making the evening possible and in sustaining the Foundation's ability to serve participants throughout the year. Their commitment reflects a shared belief that the legal community has a responsibility to support the people it sentences, not just the process of sentencing them.
The Impact of the Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation
The stories shared at the 2026 Restoring Lives Reception made one thing clear: the work of the Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation changes lives in ways that extend far beyond the courtroom. A college degree pursued after decades of incarceration. A clothing line built from scratch. A mother staying present for her children. These are the outcomes the Foundation's court programs make possible, and they are outcomes worth investing in.
The funds raised on May 19th will go directly toward grants and services that support participants in the NDIL Restorative Justice Courts at the moments that matter most. As the Foundation looks ahead, the momentum from the 2026 Restoring Lives Reception positions it well to expand its reach and deepen its impact. For members of the legal community who were not able to attend, there is still an opportunity to contribute. Donations to the Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation support housing, medical care, and other essential needs for people working hard to build stable lives. To learn more or to make a gift, visit the Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation online.
The FBA Chicago Chapter hosts events throughout the year that connect the legal community with the people and causes shaping federal practice in Northern Illinois. From receptions and luncheons to CLE programming, there is always an opportunity to engage, learn, and give back. To see what’s next, visit the Chicago Chapter’s upcoming events.
Otherwise, please take a look at the Restoring Lives Reception’s full photo gallery below!
