In 2001, Judge Rena Van Tine became the first female South Asian American judge in the nation to serve on a state court. Judge Van Tine is assigned to the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Law Division Trial Assignment Section where she presides over civil jury trials. She serves on several boards and is active with various bar associations such as the Illinois Judges Association, the Illinois Judicial Council, the Women’s Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Association and the South Asian Bar Association Foundation.