Background
Cousins, William was born on October 6, 1927 in Swiftown, Mississippi, United States. Son of William and Drusilla (Harris) Cousins.
Cousins, William was born on October 6, 1927 in Swiftown, Mississippi, United States. Son of William and Drusilla (Harris) Cousins.
Bachelor, University of Illinois, 1948. Bachelor of Laws, Harvard University, 1951.
Bar: Illinois 1953, United States District Court (northern district) Illinois 1961, Supreme Court of the United States Court 1975. Title examiner Chicago Title & Trust Company, 1953-1957. Assistant state"s attorney Cook County, Illinois, 1957-1961.
Sole practice, Chicago, 1961-1976.
Judge Circuit Court Cook County, Chicago, 1976-1992. Justice Illinois Appellate Court, 1992.
Chair Executive Committee 1st District Appellate Court, 1997. Lecturer De Paul Law School, Chicago, 1981-1984.
Board directors National Center State Court Justices, 1996.
Faculty advisor National Judicial College, 1987. Member Executive Committee Illinois Judicial Conference, 1983, former chairman of the executive committee. Liaison associate judges coordinating committee.
Former chairman Illinois Judicial Council.
Board of directors Indiana Voters Illinois, 1964-1967, Americans for Democratic Action, 1968, Operation People United to Save Humanity, 1971-1976, National Center for State Court Justices. Member Chicago City Council, 1967-1976.
Delegate Democratic National Convention, 1972. Assistant moderator United Church of Christ, New York City, 1981.
Served with United States Army, 1951-1953. Member American Bar Association, National Bar Association (board directors 1992-1993, chair National Basketball Association judicial conference 1995-1996, Hall of Fame 1994), Illinois Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association (former board directors, Edward North. Wright award 1968, William R. Ming award 1974, Hall of Fame 1997), Chicago BarAssn., Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha Kappa Alpha (Monarch award for Statesmanship 1995).
Married Hiroko Ogawa, May 12, 1953. Children: Cheryl Akiko, Noel William, Yul Vincent, Gail Yoshiko.