Mary K. O'Brien

Mary K. O'Brien (born June 4, 1965) is an American judge and politician.

Early life and education

Born in Kankakee, Illinois, O'Brien grew up on a farm in Reddick, Illinois. She graduated from Reddick High School and went to Joliet Junior College. O'Brien received her bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in 1986 and her J.D. degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1994.

Illinois House of Representatives

In 1996, she defeated Republican incumbent Stephen Spangler to represent the 75th district.[1] The 75th district, at the time, included all of Grundy County and parts of LaSalle, Kankakee, and Will County, Illinois counties.[2] From 1997 to 2003, O'Brien served in the Illinois House of Representatives and was a Democrat. The 2001 decennial reapportionment, added portions of Iroquois and Livingston counties.[3] O'Brien resigned from the Illinois House of Representatives on December 17, 2003.[4]

Judicial service

O'Brien was appointed a judge of the Third District of the Illinois Appellate Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Thomas J. Homer.[4] She was sworn in on December 26, 2003.[5][6] The Third District comprises Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Kankakee, Knox, LaSalle, Marshall, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, and Will.[7]

Judge O’Brien was elected to the court in 2004 and retained in 2014.[8]

Notes
  1. Wheeler III, Charles N. "Michael Madigan will be the longest-serving speaker". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. p. 42.
  2. Wheeler III, Charles N (1992-11-30). "Redistricting '91: the World Series of Illinois politics". Illinois Issues. Northern Illinois University Libraries. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  3. "State of Illinois Representative District 75". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  4. "Illinois Supreme Court Names Mary K. O'Brien to Appellate Court" (PDF). Illinois Supreme Court. December 22, 2003. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  5. Illinois General Assembly-Mary K. O'Brien
  6. Illinois Appellate Court-Judge Mary K. O'Brien
  7. White, Jesse (ed.). "Illinois Courts". Illinois Blue Book 2019-2020 (PDF). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 144. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  8. White, Jesse (ed.). "Appellate Court Judges". Illinois Blue 2019-2020 (PDF). p. 154. Retrieved May 4, 2020.


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