HR0116 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0116 LRB098 11202 MST 42041 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, who died on February 23, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow was born Mary Ann Grohwin on January 16, 1930, in Chicago; she grew up in the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish on the northwest side and later graduated from Immaculata High School and Rosary College, now Dominican University; and

WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow, a pioneer for women in law, received her law degree in 1953 from Loyola University School of Law, where she was the only woman in her graduating class, and class president and associate editor of the law review; she began her career as a researcher for Loyola University and then worked for the law firm of Riordan & Linklater; she was later appointed Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County, and in 1976 was elected judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County; in 1985, the Illinois Supreme Court named Mary Ann McMorrow to the Appellate Court, a position to which she won election in 1986 and served as the first woman chair of the Executive Committee; and

WHEREAS, Though Justice McMorrow broke down long-held gender barriers throughout her career and served as a mentor to many women in the legal profession, she earned the respect and admiration of all who knew her; she became the first woman to prosecute felony cases in Cook County while serving as Assistant State's Attorney; in 1992, she became the first woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court in its then 173-year history, and in 2002, she became the first woman to serve as Chief Justice; she retired from the bench in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow fought for fairness and justice throughout her career; she advocated for legal aid to help low income residents, called on lawyers to serve the poor, and urged those in the legal profession to offer their talents in pro bono services; in early 2011, she joined a long list of advocates, including a number of former U.S. Attorneys, in urging Governor Pat Quinn to sign legislation abolishing the death penalty; in her 14-year tenure on the Illinois Supreme Court, she was involved in landmark cases and decisions, including the Baby Richard case, in which she urged a hearing on the best interests of the child, and limits on jury awards; she wrote for the Supreme Court 225 majority opinions and an additional 85 concurring and dissenting opinions; and

WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow's long and distinguished career was filled with many honors and achievements; she was inducted as a Laureate of the Academy of Illinois Lawyers in 2009; among her numerous awards, she received the Medal of Excellence Award from the Loyola University School of Law Alumni Association in 1991, The Fellows of the Illinois Bar Foundation Award for Distinguished Service to Law and Society in 1996, Chicago Lawyer Magazine's Person of the Year in 2003, the American Bar Association's Margaret Brent Award in 2005, the Women's Bar Association of Illinois' Myra Bradwell Woman of Achievement Award, and three honorary degrees; she served as a master bencher of the American Inns of Court and member of the American Judicature Society, the National Association of Women Judges, and the Board of Directors of the Illinois Judges' Association; and

WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow was preceded in death by her loving husband of 24 years, the late Emmett J. McMorrow; she is survived by their daughter, Mary Ann McMorrow, and her sister, Frances Grohwin; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Justice Mary Ann McMorrow; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Justice McMorrow as a symbol of our deep sympathies and great esteem.