Gaze upon this bronze figure. This is the Justice Laura C. Liu statue. It stands tall in Ping Tom Park a testament to a remarkable life. Judge Laura Cha-Yu Liu was more than just a judge. She was a pioneer. She was the first Chinese-American woman elected judge in Illinois. She was also the first Asian-American to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court.
Her story is one of breaking barriers. Imagine a young girl arriving in America speaking little English. That girl became valedictorian. She graduated from Youngstown State University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She then moved to Chicago. There she carved a path for herself as a civil litigation attorney. She specialized in healthcare and employment law.
Even after a breast cancer diagnosis she persevered. She continued her career. She won the election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. This made her the first Chinese-American female judge in Illinois history. She worked primarily in the Chancery division. Later the Illinois Supreme Court appointed her to the Appellate Court. This was another historic first.
Judge Liu championed equal access to the courts. She worked tirelessly to ensure that non-English speakers had their voices heard. She co-chaired the Illinois Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. Her efforts led to crucial changes. Courts now provide interpreters and multilingual signage. She understood deeply the challenges faced by self-represented litigants. She remembered the advice a fellow judge gave her. “This may be the 100th case you’ve heard today. But it’s this borrower’s first and only case. It’s their most important case.”
Sadly Judge Liu died in 2016 at only 49 years old. But her legacy lives on. This statue sculpted by Erik Blome was dedicated in 2017. It was the first bronze portrait of a woman in a Chicago park. It’s a fitting tribute to a woman who broke barriers and fought for justice. Her life inspires us all. Look at the city skyline reflected in the river beyond the statue. It reminds us of the bright future Judge Liu helped to build. A future where everyone has equal access to justice.