Judge Kept Comfort Dogs at Chicago Courthouse
Bernese mountain dogs provide stress relief to employees and jurors at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Dogs
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Chief Federal Judge Virginia Kendall maintains two Bernese mountain dogs named Birdie and Ronnie as comfort animals at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. The dogs serve to lower stress and blood pressure for staff, lawyers, and jurors throughout the facility.
Why it matters
The program helps mitigate the high-stress environment of federal litigation, providing a calm presence for individuals navigating the legal system. Judge Kendall personally trains the dogs, ensuring they remain in chambers or under the bench to avoid disrupting ongoing court proceedings.
The Courthouse Dogs Foundation tracks 400 facility dogs currently working across 41 states. These comfort animals reside in chambers on the 25th floor of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse when they are not assisting personnel.
The players
Virginia Kendall
She is the Chief Federal Judge who personally trains the comfort dogs working at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.
Courthouse Dogs Foundation
This organization tracks the placement and utilization of facility dogs in legal settings across the United States.
The details
Birdie and Ronnie operate under strict protocols, staying out of the courtroom while witnesses are testifying to maintain judicial impartiality. The comfort dog program evolved after the passing of an original canine companion, Junebug, to provide continuous support during stressful legal events like the 6-week Ed Burke corruption trial.
Timeline
Junebug the comfort dog died in January 2026.
The comfort dog program remains active as of 2026.
Culture Shift
The integration of comfort animals into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse reflects a growing societal move toward normalizing animal-assisted therapy in high-pressure professional environments. This adoption mirrors the trend identified by the Courthouse Dogs Foundation's facility dog national census.
For residents involved in the legal process at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, the dogs offer a potential reduction in stress during tense court sessions. The public may encounter Judge Kendall walking the dogs through the streets of Chicago during court breaks.
The takeaway
Using comfort dogs in the legal system helps humanize an otherwise intimidating and stressful environment for all participants. These animals illustrate how simple environmental changes can tangibly improve the mental well-being of courthouse staff and jurors.
Further reading
For more information on local canine news, visit Dogs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WGN-TV.
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Do you believe comfort animals should be used in professional settings like courthouses?
