George Cooke

Background

George Anderson Cooke was born in New Athens, Ohio on July 3, 1869.

Education

He was educated at Knox College, graduating in 1892.

Career

Both of Cooke"s parents died when he was 11 years old, and he was sent to live in Mercer County, Illinois. Cooke was admitted to the bar of Illinois in 1895 and established a law practice in Aledo, Illinois. In 1902, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 33rd District.

He served two terms.

He served as chief justice of the court for two consecutive terms in 1913 and 1914. In 1918, Cooke left the bench to become chief counsel of the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, a position he held for the next twenty years until his death. Cooke was married to Sarah Blee.

Together, they had four children.

He died in his home on December 6, 1938.

Achievements

• Upon the death of Justice Guy C. Scott of the Illinois Supreme Court in 1909, Cooke ran for and won election to the Fourth District of the Illinois Supreme Court. Cooke served out the remainder of Justice Scott"s term and then won re-election to a full term in 1912.

Membership

He was elected as a member of the Australian Labor Party, but was expelled from the party in the 1931 Labor split and sat with the splinter Parliamentary Labor Party for the remainder of his term.