ST. LOUIS – The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) is proud to announce the recipients of its inaugural Illinois Region Legal Leaders Awards. The award recipients will be honored on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at The Regency in O’Fallon, Ill.
“This is an exceptional group, not only as attorneys and judges, but as people,” said Untress “Trez” Quinn, president of BAMSL. “Each of the honorees has demonstrated unwavering integrity and a deep commitment to their profession, the rule of law, and their communities.”
The awards recognize excellence in three categories.
Justice Award- For exceptional commitment to justice and public service.
Hon. Veronica Armouti (Associate Judge, 3rd Judicial Circuit, Madison & Bond Counties)
Judge Veronica Armouti is being recognized for her excellence in legal advocacy in rural and downstate Illinois. Raised in the region, she returned after living abroad and in the Chicago suburbs to raise her family and serve the community that shaped her early life. On the bench, she strives to handle each case fairly and impartially. Beyond the courtroom, Judge Armouti contributes to her community by supporting pro bono organizations, serving on boards, mentoring students, and teaching “Disabilities in the Courthouse,” a required continuing legal education course for new and experienced Illinois judges, demonstrating her commitment to the law and the community.
Tom Keefe III (Keefe, Keefe & Unsell, P.C.)
Tom Keefe III, a Belleville native and dedicated Southern Illinois attorney, is being honored for his exceptional legal advocacy in rural and downstate communities. Over nearly two decades, Keefe has represented clients while driving regional reforms, including improvements in police technology and hospital policies and procedures. Known for his integrity and transparency, he emphasizes preparation, honesty, and clear storytelling to build trust and achieve results.
Mentorship Award- To honor attorneys who have mentored the next generation of legal professionals.
Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel (Chief Judge, Southern District of Illinois)
Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel is being recognized for her outstanding commitment to justice, public service, and support of underserved communities. Serving in the Southern District of Illinois for nearly 28 years, she has contributed to the community through school outreach, holiday events, food drives, and initiatives like the Greater East St. Louis Community Fund, supporting local students pursuing higher education. Judge Rosenstengel has also promoted access to justice through pro bono programs and mediation efforts. Reflecting her dedication to fairness, she emphasizes treating litigants and lawyers equitably and making the best decision under the law.
Hon. Heinz Rudolf (Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial Circuit, St. Clair County)
Judge Heinz Rudolf is being honored for his exceptional dedication to justice and public service. Inspired by his father and early mentors, he emphasizes fairness, service, and respect in both his personal and professional life.
Since 2017, he has educated students about responsible social media use and cyberbullying, while advocating for public access to legal tools and resources through courthouse self-help centers. On the bench, he is committed to impartiality and being faithful to the rule of law, and as he approaches twenty years of judicial service, he continues to mentor others and strengthen the administration of justice.
Advocate Award- For excellence in legal advocacy, particularly in rural or downstate Illinois.
Jarred Reed (Lewis Brisbois)
Jarred Reed is being honored for his commitment to supporting and guiding young attorneys as they build their careers. Shaped by mentors in his own professional journey, Reed takes a flexible, practical approach to mentorship, emphasizing empowerment, initiative, and learning through experience. Reed is involved with a number of professional organizations, where he helps foster connection, opportunity, and support for diverse emerging attorneys across the region.
Since BAMSL represents the entire St. Louis region, these awards were designed to recognize the talented legal practitioners from a sometimes-overlooked area.
“Many of our members come from the Metro East region,” said Susan McCourt Baltz, executive director of BAMSL. “As the bar association serving the St. Louis metropolitan area, we are proud to honor these outstanding judges and attorneys from Illinois.”
Quinn, an Illinois native, was the driving force behind the creation of the BAMSL Illinois Region Legal Leaders Awards to celebrate judges and attorneys across the Metro East region.
“We are all in this together,” said Quinn. “Even though we are divided by the Mississippi River, many of us are licensed in Illinois as well as Missouri and we practice in the same courthouses. BAMSL is the bar association for metropolitan St. Louis which includes the Metro East.”
Quinn hopes the awards will become an annual tradition.
“I want this event to shine a light on these Illinois judges and attorneys and also shine a light on BAMSL for the Illinois practitioners and to get them involved in our organization,” said Quinn. “I think there’s so much talent they can bring to the table for BAMSL and there’s a lot BAMSL can offer to them in terms of networking and professional development resources, so everybody wins.”
The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (www.bamsl.org), founded in 1874, is a Missouri not-for-profit corporation, the members of which are attorneys principally practicing in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Our mission is to maintain the highest professional standards among attorneys, to enhance the professional competence of attorneys, to improve the administration of justice, to serve the needs of members, and to provide law-related service and education to the public.
