NIRCO Selected as 2023 Liberty Bell Award Recipient!

The Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization (NIRCO) has been selected to receive a 2023 Liberty Bell Award by Lake County’s Circuit Judges for providing outstanding services to Lake County’s Specialty courts and community over the years.

The organization Liberty Bell Award will be presented to NIRCO by the Judges of the 19th Judicial Circuit at a luncheon at the Waukegan City Hall on April 26th at 12:15 pm.

The Liberty Bell Award is being awarded to NIRCO s for its outstanding services and dedication to furthering the administration of justice by:

• Promoting a better understanding of the rule of law,

• Encouraging greater respect for the law and the courts

• Stimulating a sense of civic responsibility, and

• Contributing to good government in the community.

Liberty Bell Award originated with the Michigan Young Lawyers. In the 1960s, they established an award to acknowledge outstanding community services. Lake County’s judges have given the awards since at least 1996.

In 2005, the Circuit Court of Lake County began its tradition of presenting the awards in Memory of Judge Thomas R Smoker, a respected Lake County judge who passed away in 2004.