Diane Wood Honored By ALI with Henry J. Friendly Medal
Diane P. Wood, a senior lecturer in law at the Law School and a former judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, was presented with the American Law Institute’s Henry J. Friendly Medal at the Institute’s 2026 Annual Meeting on May 20.
Judge Pierre N. Leval of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit presented the award to Wood and co-recipient J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
The medal was established in memory of Judge Henry J. Friendly, who was a member of the ALI Council and a distinguished judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. It recognizes contributions to the law in the tradition of Judge Friendly and the Institute.
“Judge Wilkinson and Judge Wood represent the very best traditions of the federal judiciary." ALI President David F. Levi
“Judge Wilkinson and Judge Wood represent the very best traditions of the federal judiciary,” said ALI President David F. Levi. “In the tradition of Judge Henry Friendly, both have devoted their careers to careful judging, intellectual rigor, and service to the law. Through their opinions and engagement with the legal community, each has helped shape the development of the law while strengthening the institutions that sustain it. Both have served with distinction on the bench, in government, and in the academy.”
Wood was appointed to the Seventh Circuit in 1995, serving as its chief judge from 2013 to 2020. Prior to joining the court, she taught at the University of Chicago Law School, where she continues to teach today as a senior lecturer in law.
Wood also served two years as deputy assistant attorney general in the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice. Elected to ALI in 1990 and to the ALI Council in 2003, she has been an influential and active participant in the Institute’s work and its leadership. She assumed the role of ALI Director in May 2023, the first woman to hold the position.
