ICCTA Gary W. Davis Ethical Leadership Award

2012 Recipient


The Hon. Wiley Edmondson
Retired associate judge
16th Judicial Circuit of Illinois
Nominated by Elgin Community College

Judge Wiley W. Edmondson has been a leader in ethics education for nearly a quarter of a century. A member of the College of DuPage's first graduating class, he taught business law at COD for 17 years, keeping ethical behavior at the forefront of every lesson.

As a practicing attorney, Edmondson helped start one of the nation's first mandatory pro bono court programs. He also served on inquiry and hearing boards for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. As an associate judge, he developed a community resource guide for use inside and outside the courtroom.

Judge Edmondson continues to promote ethical decision-making through his work with the Elgin Area Leadership Academy. Since 1991, ELA's training program has featured the "Wiley docudrama" – an Edmondson-scripted dramatization of real-life ethical dilemmas, such as the Mai Lai massacre and the Titanic disaster. Many of the program's 400-plus alumni return each year to participate and debate the ethical questions raised in the dramatizations.