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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE JUDGE RICHARD L. CURRY, FORMER PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE COOK COUNTY CHANCERY DIVISION
WHEREAS, Judge Richard Curry, retired presiding judge of the Chancery Division, a man whose life was devoted to public service and family, died at the age of 86 leaving friends, family and a community enriched for having known him; and
WHEREAS, Judge Curry played a major role in restoring integrity to the Cook County judiciary. He was selected to be presiding judge of the Chancery Division during one of the worst corruption investigations in modern times. Judge Curry was a well-respected judge who immeasurably improved the division, in addition to implementing many other innovative systems he pioneered the practice of publishing written opinions at the trial level ; and
WHEREAS, Judge Curry’s many accomplishments were routinely singled out for distinction. He was honored with an award by the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago, a civic engagement organization that provides elementary and secondary students with hands-on learning about the Constitution. The Chicago Bar Association gave him its highest recommendation as “highly qualified.” It described him as “arguably the most respected and highly regarded jurist in Cook County and perhaps one of the best sitting judges in the country.” His excellent work and reputation placed him the candidate pool for a federal judicial position; and
WHEREAS, Richard Curry was a veteran of the Korean War veteran. He graduated from DePaul University College of Law and began working as a staff attorney in the city of Chicago’s Law Department, where he was later named The Corporation Counsel to Mayor Richard J. Daley. He had the honor to argue on behalf of the City of Chicago twice before the United States Supreme Court; and
WHEREAS, Judge Curry was first elected to a circuit judge position in 1974 and served in several divisions before ultimately settling into the Chancery Division; and
WHEREAS, Judge Richard Curry will long be remembered for his impassioned 64-page opinion that sided against the playing of night baseball games in Wrigley Field. His legendary opinion bursting with wit and couched in baseball terms, singled out the Chicago Cubs` owners specifically and major league baseball generally for being greedy in attempting to increase baseball revenue generated by night baseball to the detriment of the surrounding Lake View community; and
WHEREAS, after retirement Judge Curry generously donated his wisdom and skill to numerous non-profits. He served on the board of directors for the Helen Brach Foundation and the Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Judge Curry will be sorely missed by his wife, Dorothy; his two sons Richard Jr. and Michael; daughter Diane; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County who he served dutifully, commemorates the extraordinary life of the Honorable Judge Richard L. Curry, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable and innumerable contributions he has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the family of the Honorable Judge Richard L. Curry.end