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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE JUSTICE THOMAS FITZGERALD, FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT
WHEREAS, Thomas Fitzgerald, former Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, a man who spent his life deeply devoted to faith , family and public service died at the age of 74, leaving behind family, friends and a community profoundly enriched for having known him; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Fitzgerald will long be remembered for his exceptional leadership and wisdom during crisis. His equanimity and strength helped guide the judiciary through some of its darkest days and restored integrity to a system that had been devastated by a massive FBI investigation into judicial corruption that resulted in fifteen judges being convicted. Under his leadership the traffic court was entirely restructured and improved. Through his personal integrity and the redesign he was able to restore the reputation of the division as well as the entire Circuit Court; and
WHEREAS, As chief Justice, Thomas Fitzgerald presided over the only impeachment trial for a governor in Illinois state history and did so in a dignified and conscientious manner, once again stepping in to confront crisis and assist in the restoration of public confidence after one of Illinois' worst scandals; and
WHEREAS Fitzgerald was a proud Chicago South-sider. His father was a Cook County Circuit Court judge. Fitzgerald graduated from Leo Catholic High School and attended Loyola University in Chicago before enlisting in the Navy. After his discharge from the service, he enrolled in John Marshall Law School, where he founded the school's law review and later served as its editor; and
WHEREAS, after serving as a top prosecutor for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, he was elected to the Circuit Court in 1976, becoming the youngest elected circuit judge in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Judge Fitzgerald later was assigned to the Criminal Division as presiding judge in t...
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