Mary Jane Theis
Called to Justice
Story by Jamie Traynor • Photos by Lukas Keapproth
Mary Jane Theis (BA ’71), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, shares how her Loyola experience shaped her life, career, and pursuit of justice.
THE VALUE OF A JESUIT EDUCATION
It may be difficult to imagine that the Honorable Mary Jane Theis, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, who has practiced law for half a century and has served as a judge for the past 40 years, was once an undergraduate student studying history who simply went by “Mary Jane.”
The Jesuit values of education and service were an important presence in her life and family traditions from the very beginning. Chief Justice Theis, an only child, was born in Chicago to Eleanore and Kenneth Wendt, a graduate of Marquette University.
Chief Justice Theis throughout her childhood
Although Chief Justice Theis was not able to enroll in Chicago's more prominent Jesuit high schools, such as Loyola Academy or St. Ignatius College Prep (which did not admit female students at the time), she attended The Immaculata High School with the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) on the northeast side.
“The BVMs also oversaw Mundelein College,” recalled Chief Justice Theis, referring to the last private, independent Catholic women’s college in Illinois that would become affiliated with Loyola University Chicago in 1991. “But, I wanted to attend a co-ed, Jesuit school.”
Chief Justice Theis admitted, “The 1963 basketball championship is what really raised my awareness of Loyola,” hinting at the famous game between the Loyola Ramblers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs regarded as a milestone of desegregation in college basketball.
“But I also knew and valued the tradition of an education at Loyola, which is focused on the formation of a person rather than just an exchange of information.”
Chief Justice Theis began her first year at Loyola as a history student.
“I just found the stories interesting, and I still do,” she said. “When I step back and think how my time at Loyola affected me, I think back to a class on American diplomatic history. I read hundreds of years of history for this course, but what really impacted me, and continues to do so, was the final exam.”
Chief Justice Theis as an undergraduate student on Lake Shore Campus
Used to multiple choice questions, Chief Justice Theis started her exam and saw only one, open-ended question: Describe Franklin Roosevelt’s diplomatic policy.
“I couldn’t just start writing,” she laughed. “I had to think about the question, the context, and how to write an outline, prioritize, and synthesize. It was an intellectual awakening for me that school wasn’t just about spitting out answers. I finally got what it meant to be a serious student.”
This exam has come up in conversation dozens of times throughout her career.
“It’s a lot like law. You might have a statute, but you can’t just talk about it. You have to put structure on it, see context. You read the words that were said, interpret what they mean, and evaluate the impact.”
“Chief Justice Theis’ experience is a shining example of how a liberal arts, Jesuit education from the College of Arts and Sciences equips our students with the ability to think critically – both in the classroom and throughout their lives,” said Peter J. Schraeder, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Her steadfast commitment to service, justice, and community speaks to the lifelong value of a liberal arts, Jesuit education.”
In addition to her degree, her time at Loyola has had a profound impact on her life.
“I met my husband and formed some of my most dear, lifelong friendships at Loyola.”
After graduation, Chief Justice Theis and her husband, John, moved to the Bay Area where they both attended the University of San Francisco (USF), another private Jesuit university, for law school.
“When I talk about USF, I call it ‘Loyola by the Bay.’ It had the same feeling and Jesuit sense of service.”
THE CALL TO SERVE
Although this sense of service was strengthened during her time at Loyola, its influence first took root when Chief Justice Theis was a child. Her father served as a member of the Illinois General Assembly from 1952 to 1962.
“I was an only child, so when I was a girl, my mother and I would take the train to Springfield to sit in the gallery of the Illinois General Assembly and watch what was going on. The big issue at the time was civil rights,” Chief Justice Theis explained. “Racism, antisemitism – these ideas were so foreign to my world, but people were describing these injustices and looking to the government and the law to address what happened to them.”
When her father was elected as a Cook County Circuit Court judge, Chief Justice Theis frequently visited the courthouse to watch him preside over the courtroom. His cases were often focused on narcotics and elements like the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.
“These big ideas about justice - and injustice - really came down to the impact on real people’s lives. I saw firsthand that many were suffering with terrible addiction. My dad worked hard to help as much as he could, but prison was the only legal outcome of conviction at the time. It inspired me to pursue a career in public service. I wanted to be part of the discussion to improve people’s lives through the law.”
Chief Justice and her husband with her father in his chambers at Richard J. Daley Center
As the leader of the highest judiciary in Illinois with decades of experience as a public defender and trial judge, Chief Justice Theis and her colleagues on the Supreme Court have a significant stake in the evolution and power of the law.
“I look at all kinds of cases. One might be a murder case, or a divorce, and the next, an environmental issue. As I learn to do this kind of work, I see the law as an organic whole. These big ideas and important principals cut across all areas of law in our American system. But, the basic concept that I keep coming back to is this idea of fairness.”
A CHAMPION OF JUSTICE
In past interviews and public speaking engagements, Chief Justice Theis has spoken about the changing role of the judiciary in the court of public opinion.
“I think we’re seeing all across the country that courts are being asked to decide societal issues in ways they weren’t before,” she explained. “Typically, the courts decide what a statute means or whether a trial was fair. Lately, courts are forced to rule on areas of policy.”
A civics lesson will teach you that while the legislative branch makes and the executive enforces laws, it is the role of judiciary to interpret and apply law. However, Chief Justice Theis highlighted that only half of their work is confined to decisions in the court. The other half is focused on the administration of the courts and regulation of the legal profession.
More and more, though, Chief Justice Theis has found that the courts are being asked to step in and create reforms outside of their traditional duties.
"Fairness is the highest ethical obligation we have... It is our obligation to work to earn the people’s trust, every day." Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis (BA '71)
“Right now, for example, our court is very concerned about the prevalence of mental health issues and how this impacts our court system,” said Chief Justice Theis. “A huge percentage of people who are arrested enter our criminal courts and jails with diagnosable, acute mental illness that must be addressed.”
Chief Justice Theis and her colleagues have created task forces to discuss how to provide mental health care to those who need it and providing family courts with mental health professionals to support children in the middle of custody battles.
While courts should not be partisan, public perception has shifted to believe there is partisanship within the courts that influences a judge’s decision.
“It troubles me,” admitted Chief Justice Theis. “Here in Illinois, an important part of our system is that judges are elected, and therefore held accountable by the people.
“But to just talk about what party people are elected from is not the only way to think about accountability. I have close relationships with judges from all over the state and I don’t have a clue what party they belong to. It just doesn’t come up, because judges aren’t politicians. But, I know that’s not the perception.”
Perception, however, is critical to the strength of the judiciary.
“The power of the court comes from the people and their trust and confidence they have been treated fairly. It’s key to how our communities function. If people don’t trust us, then that creates a breakdown of the rule of law.”
To help rebuild and bolster this trust, Chief Justice Theis and her colleagues are active in judicial education and seek to be in open dialogue with the communities they serve.
“Fairness is the highest ethical obligation we have. Other judges and I talk about this all the time. But, partisan perception undermines this. That is why I always say it is our obligation to work to earn the people’s trust, every day.”
From recognizing and preventing implicit bias to ensuring that signage in courthouses is available in languages other than English, fairness and accessibility are key.
“We want the public to know that they can come into our courtrooms and feel welcome. This is their place to seek justice.”
Chief Justice Theis speaks to Loyola's first-year law students
The courts are also seeking to rebuild trust through the next generation of lawyers and judges. Although she is not an alumna of the School of Law at Loyola herself, Chief Justice Theis has visited to teach courses and engage with students alongside other members of the court.
“We speak to first-year law students for their orientation on their first day to impress upon them the professionalism, responsibility, and duty to the community that comes with the profession. I love the experience.”
When asked to share words of advice for current Loyola students and recent graduates, whether or not they pursue a career in law, Chief Justice Theis returned to the value of service.
“Connect your life to something bigger than yourself and choose a career that will bring you meaning. It will bring you joy. As I tell law students all the time: keep looking for justice, and let it bring meaning to your life.”
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest of Loyola University Chicago’s 15 schools, colleges, and institutes. More than 150 years since its founding, the College is home to 20 academic departments and 36 interdisciplinary programs and centers, more than 450 full-time faculty, and nearly 8,000 students. The 2,000+ classes that we offer each semester span an array of intellectual pursuits, ranging from the natural sciences and computational sciences to the humanities, the social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. Our students and faculty are engaged internationally at our campus in Rome, Italy, as well as at dozens of University-sponsored study abroad and research sites around the world. Home to the departments that anchor the University’s Core Curriculum, the College seeks to prepare all of Loyola’s students to think critically, to engage the world of the 21st century at ever deepening levels, and to become caring and compassionate individuals. Our faculty, staff, and students view service to others not just as one option among many, but as a constitutive dimension of their very being. In the truest sense of the Jesuit ideal, our graduates strive to be “individuals for others.”
Story by Jamie Traynor • Photos by Lukas Keapproth
Mary Jane Theis (BA ’71), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, shares how her Loyola experience shaped her life, career, and pursuit of justice.
THE VALUE OF A JESUIT EDUCATION
It may be difficult to imagine that the Honorable Mary Jane Theis, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, who has practiced law for half a century and has served as a judge for the past 40 years, was once an undergraduate student studying history who simply went by “Mary Jane.”
The Jesuit values of education and service were an important presence in her life and family traditions from the very beginning. Chief Justice Theis, an only child, was born in Chicago to Eleanore and Kenneth Wendt, a graduate of Marquette University.
Although Chief Justice Theis was not able to enroll in Chicago's more prominent Jesuit high schools, such as Loyola Academy or St. Ignatius College Prep (which did not admit female students at the time), she attended The Immaculata High School with the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) on the northeast side.
“The BVMs also oversaw Mundelein College,” recalled Chief Justice Theis, referring to the last private, independent Catholic women’s college in Illinois that would become affiliated with Loyola University Chicago in 1991. “But, I wanted to attend a co-ed, Jesuit school.”
Chief Justice Theis admitted, “The 1963 basketball championship is what really raised my awareness of Loyola,” hinting at the famous game between the Loyola Ramblers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs regarded as a milestone of desegregation in college basketball.
“But I also knew and valued the tradition of an education at Loyola, which is focused on the formation of a person rather than just an exchange of information.”
Chief Justice Theis began her first year at Loyola as a history student.
“I just found the stories interesting, and I still do,” she said. “When I step back and think how my time at Loyola affected me, I think back to a class on American diplomatic history. I read hundreds of years of history for this course, but what really impacted me, and continues to do so, was the final exam.”
Used to multiple choice questions, Chief Justice Theis started her exam and saw only one, open-ended question: Describe Franklin Roosevelt’s diplomatic policy.
“I couldn’t just start writing,” she laughed. “I had to think about the question, the context, and how to write an outline, prioritize, and synthesize. It was an intellectual awakening for me that school wasn’t just about spitting out answers. I finally got what it meant to be a serious student.”
This exam has come up in conversation dozens of times throughout her career.
“It’s a lot like law. You might have a statute, but you can’t just talk about it. You have to put structure on it, see context. You read the words that were said, interpret what they mean, and evaluate the impact.”
“Chief Justice Theis’ experience is a shining example of how a liberal arts, Jesuit education from the College of Arts and Sciences equips our students with the ability to think critically – both in the classroom and throughout their lives,” said Peter J. Schraeder, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Her steadfast commitment to service, justice, and community speaks to the lifelong value of a liberal arts, Jesuit education.”
In addition to her degree, her time at Loyola has had a profound impact on her life.
“I met my husband and formed some of my most dear, lifelong friendships at Loyola.”
After graduation, Chief Justice Theis and her husband, John, moved to the Bay Area where they both attended the University of San Francisco (USF), another private Jesuit university, for law school.
“When I talk about USF, I call it ‘Loyola by the Bay.’ It had the same feeling and Jesuit sense of service.”
THE CALL TO SERVE
Although this sense of service was strengthened during her time at Loyola, its influence first took root when Chief Justice Theis was a child. Her father served as a member of the Illinois General Assembly from 1952 to 1962.
“I was an only child, so when I was a girl, my mother and I would take the train to Springfield to sit in the gallery of the Illinois General Assembly and watch what was going on. The big issue at the time was civil rights,” Chief Justice Theis explained. “Racism, antisemitism – these ideas were so foreign to my world, but people were describing these injustices and looking to the government and the law to address what happened to them.”
When her father was elected as a Cook County Circuit Court judge, Chief Justice Theis frequently visited the courthouse to watch him preside over the courtroom. His cases were often focused on narcotics and elements like the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.
“These big ideas about justice - and injustice - really came down to the impact on real people’s lives. I saw firsthand that many were suffering with terrible addiction. My dad worked hard to help as much as he could, but prison was the only legal outcome of conviction at the time. It inspired me to pursue a career in public service. I wanted to be part of the discussion to improve people’s lives through the law.”
As the leader of the highest judiciary in Illinois with decades of experience as a public defender and trial judge, Chief Justice Theis and her colleagues on the Supreme Court have a significant stake in the evolution and power of the law.
“I look at all kinds of cases. One might be a murder case, or a divorce, and the next, an environmental issue. As I learn to do this kind of work, I see the law as an organic whole. These big ideas and important principals cut across all areas of law in our American system. But, the basic concept that I keep coming back to is this idea of fairness.”
A CHAMPION OF JUSTICE
In past interviews and public speaking engagements, Chief Justice Theis has spoken about the changing role of the judiciary in the court of public opinion.
“I think we’re seeing all across the country that courts are being asked to decide societal issues in ways they weren’t before,” she explained. “Typically, the courts decide what a statute means or whether a trial was fair. Lately, courts are forced to rule on areas of policy.”
A civics lesson will teach you that while the legislative branch makes and the executive enforces laws, it is the role of judiciary to interpret and apply law. However, Chief Justice Theis highlighted that only half of their work is confined to decisions in the court. The other half is focused on the administration of the courts and regulation of the legal profession.
More and more, though, Chief Justice Theis has found that the courts are being asked to step in and create reforms outside of their traditional duties.
“Right now, for example, our court is very concerned about the prevalence of mental health issues and how this impacts our court system,” said Chief Justice Theis. “A huge percentage of people who are arrested enter our criminal courts and jails with diagnosable, acute mental illness that must be addressed.”
Chief Justice Theis and her colleagues have created task forces to discuss how to provide mental health care to those who need it and providing family courts with mental health professionals to support children in the middle of custody battles.
While courts should not be partisan, public perception has shifted to believe there is partisanship within the courts that influences a judge’s decision.
“It troubles me,” admitted Chief Justice Theis. “Here in Illinois, an important part of our system is that judges are elected, and therefore held accountable by the people.
“But to just talk about what party people are elected from is not the only way to think about accountability. I have close relationships with judges from all over the state and I don’t have a clue what party they belong to. It just doesn’t come up, because judges aren’t politicians. But, I know that’s not the perception.”
Perception, however, is critical to the strength of the judiciary.
“The power of the court comes from the people and their trust and confidence they have been treated fairly. It’s key to how our communities function. If people don’t trust us, then that creates a breakdown of the rule of law.”
To help rebuild and bolster this trust, Chief Justice Theis and her colleagues are active in judicial education and seek to be in open dialogue with the communities they serve.
“Fairness is the highest ethical obligation we have. Other judges and I talk about this all the time. But, partisan perception undermines this. That is why I always say it is our obligation to work to earn the people’s trust, every day.”
From recognizing and preventing implicit bias to ensuring that signage in courthouses is available in languages other than English, fairness and accessibility are key.
“We want the public to know that they can come into our courtrooms and feel welcome. This is their place to seek justice.”
The courts are also seeking to rebuild trust through the next generation of lawyers and judges. Although she is not an alumna of the School of Law at Loyola herself, Chief Justice Theis has visited to teach courses and engage with students alongside other members of the court.
“We speak to first-year law students for their orientation on their first day to impress upon them the professionalism, responsibility, and duty to the community that comes with the profession. I love the experience.”
When asked to share words of advice for current Loyola students and recent graduates, whether or not they pursue a career in law, Chief Justice Theis returned to the value of service.
“Connect your life to something bigger than yourself and choose a career that will bring you meaning. It will bring you joy. As I tell law students all the time: keep looking for justice, and let it bring meaning to your life.”
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest of Loyola University Chicago’s 15 schools, colleges, and institutes. More than 150 years since its founding, the College is home to 20 academic departments and 36 interdisciplinary programs and centers, more than 450 full-time faculty, and nearly 8,000 students. The 2,000+ classes that we offer each semester span an array of intellectual pursuits, ranging from the natural sciences and computational sciences to the humanities, the social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. Our students and faculty are engaged internationally at our campus in Rome, Italy, as well as at dozens of University-sponsored study abroad and research sites around the world. Home to the departments that anchor the University’s Core Curriculum, the College seeks to prepare all of Loyola’s students to think critically, to engage the world of the 21st century at ever deepening levels, and to become caring and compassionate individuals. Our faculty, staff, and students view service to others not just as one option among many, but as a constitutive dimension of their very being. In the truest sense of the Jesuit ideal, our graduates strive to be “individuals for others.”