title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF THEODORE GREEN
WHEREAS, Ted Green spent nearly two decades of his life as a Cook County Assistant Public Defender where he was well known and respected by his peers and his adversaries alike for his diligence and devotion to fighting for every client's constitutional rights; and
WHEREAS, Ted Green was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and was the oldest of eight siblings. He excelled as a student at Booker T. Washington High School and attended Clark Atlanta University. Later he graduated from the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. and set out to pursue his dream of becoming a lawyer; and
WHEREAS, as a young lawyer, Ted Green moved to Chicago and began his work with the Cook County Public Defender's office a year later. He rose through the ranks and, because of his legal aptitude, his profound compassion and rapport with his clients, he was selected to join the elite Murder Task Force division of the Cook County Public Defender; and
WHEREAS, during the time that Ted Green spent fighting for the lives of his clients on the Murder Task Force, the climate was particularly hostile and societal compassion for poor defendants facing death was at its nadir. It was a difficult time to be a defense attorney fighting for the life of a client; it was an even more difficult time to be a defense attorney for multitudes of clients whose extreme poverty and deprivation left them deeply troubled. With that as a backdrop, Ted became known, not just as an attorney who was meticulously prepared and skilled as a litigator but as one who genuinely believed and valued the humanity of each of his clients and treated them and their families with dignity and respect; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, Ted Green left the public defender's office and went into private practice in Chicago. After several decades he returned to the Public Defender's office in 2003 as a supervisor for trial lawyers working in the First Municipal District courts and remained there until his untimely death at the age of 66; and
WHEREAS, Ted Green was a generous and tireless mentor to countless young attorneys at the Public Defender's Office. His wisdom and guidance helped shape the next generation of Public Defenders and his calm and thoughtful demeanor made him an excellent model for all lawyers; and
WHEREAS, Ted Green will be sorely missed by his daughter, Brandi Green and his seven siblings, Teala Goode, Camille Collier, Stacy Collier, Pamela Collier, Tracy Collier, Craig Collier and Chauncy Collier; and
WHEREAS, Ted Green will long be remembered for his thorough work and achievement, his high ethical and moral standards, professionalism, and excellent character. Above all, he will be remembered as a model of decorum and affability; he was uniformly referred to as a real "Southern gentleman"; 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 commemorates the extraordinary life of Theodore Green, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable 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 Theodore Green.end