Neil Hartigan

Neil F. Hartigan (born May 4, 1938) is an American lawyer and politician from Illinois. He served as the Attorney General of Illinois, the 40th Lieutenant Governor, and a justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Hartigan was also the Democratic nominee for governor in 1990, but lost the race to Republican Jim Edgar.

Neil Hartigan
Judge of the Illinois Court of Claims
Incumbent
Assumed office May 2, 2013
Appointed by	Pat Quinn
Preceded by	Norma F. Jann
Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court for the First District
In office December 2, 2002 – June 1, 2004
Preceded by	Robert Chapman Buckley
Succeeded by	P. Scott Neville Jr.
38th Attorney General of Illinois
In office January 12, 1983 – January 14, 1991
Governor	James R. Thompson
Preceded by	Tyrone C. Fahner
Succeeded by	Roland Burris
40th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
In office January 8, 1973 – January 10, 1977
Governor	Daniel Walker
Preceded by	Paul Simon
Succeeded by	Dave O'Neal
Personal details
Born	May 4, 1938 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Marge Dunne
Education	Georgetown University (B.S.) Loyola University (J.D.)

Background

Hartigan grew up in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, in an Irish Catholic family. His father David was Alderman of the 49th Ward.[1] Hartigan graduated from Loyola Academy. He graduated from Georgetown University[2] in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor's degree in 1959. He received a juris doctor degree from Loyola University College of Law[3] in 1962.

Upon completion of law school Hartigan worked for 10 years for the city of Chicago. He served in various roles: as the city's legislative counsel in Springfield, as attorney for the Chicago Board of Health and as general counsel for the Chicago Park District. Hartigan was elected the Democratic Committeeman for the 49th ward in 1968 and served in the position until stepping down in 1980. Former state legislator Michael Brady defeated Hartigan's choice, Cook County Treasurer Edward J. Rosewell in the Democratic primary.[4]

Lt. Governor of Illinois

In 1972, Hartigan was selected as the running mate to the party's endorsed candidate, then-lieutenant governor Paul Simon. Simon lost the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Dan Walker, while Hartigan beat Walker's hand-picked running mate, Carbondale mayor Neal Eckert. Walker and Hartigan won the general election, making Hartigan, at age 34, the youngest lieutenant governor in the nation. Following his election Time magazine named him as one of 200 future leaders of the country.

Hartigan won renomination in 1976, but Michael J. Howlett ousted Walker at the top of the ticket. In the general election James R. Thompson and Dave O'Neal soundly defeated the Democratic team of Howlett and Hartigan.

Post service as Lt. Governor of Illinois

For a time, Hartigan left public life for the business world. He returned in 1982, winning election as Illinois attorney general. In 1986, he briefly sought the Democratic nomination for governor but withdrew when Adlai Stevenson III entered the race. Hartigan then ran for reelection as attorney general, and won with the highest number of votes of any statewide office that year. In 1990 Hartigan won the Democratic nomination for Illinois Governor but was defeated in the General Election by Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar.

Hartigan has served as Chairman of the World Trade Center Illinois.[5]

In 2002, Hartigan won election to the Illinois Appellate Court from the First District, which is composed of Cook County, Illinois to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Robert Chapman Buckley.[6][7]

After two years, Hartigan chose to retire voluntarily from the bench. Hartigan's retirement date was June 1, 2004. He was succeeded by P. Scott Neville Jr..[8]

He was a member of Hillary Clinton's Illinois Steering Committee and February 5 Rapid Responders.[9]

On March 22, 2013, Governor Pat Quinn appointed Hartigan to the Illinois Court of Claims for a term starting March 18, 2013 and ending January 21, 2019. Hartigan was confirmed by the Illinois Senate on May 2, 2019. He succeed Norma F. Jann.[10] The Court rules on claims filed against state, except those under Workers' Compensation or Workers' Occupational DiseasesActs, or claims for expenses in civil litigation.[11]

External links

• 1973–1974 Illinois Blue Book
• 1975–1976 Illinois Blue Book p36

References

1. Chicago reader: "What's the Deal With Neal Hartigan?" By Florence Hamlish Levinsohn October 25, 1990
2. "John Carroll Award". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
3. "President's Medal Award Winner". Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
4. Fremon, David K. (October 22, 1988). Chicago Politics Ward by Ward. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 331. ISBN 0-253-31344-9. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
5. https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/people/1889341-neil-f-hartigan
6. Baim, Tracy (October 30, 2002). "Judging the Judges" (PDF). Windy City Times. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
7. "Chief Justice McMorrow to Give Judicial Oath to Neil Hartigan" (PDF) (Press release). Illinois Supreme Court. December 2, 2002. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
8. "Appellate Court gets Hartigan replacement". Chicago Tribune. June 11, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
9. Official Hillary Clinton Presidential website Archived January 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
10. Quinn, Pat (May 2, 2013). "98th General Assembly Appointment Message 0148". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
11. Gruber, Amanda (August 1, 2018). "Publication 425: State Board and Commission Descriptions" (PDF). Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 510. Retrieved December 14, 2018.