Neil F. Hartigan

Background

Hartigan grew up in Chicago"s Rogers Park neighborhood, in an Irish Catholic family. His father David was Alderman of the 49th Ward.

Education

Graduate social science, Georgetown University, 1959. Juris Doctor, Loyola University, Chicago, 1962. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Martin Luther King College, 1975.

Doctor of Laws (honorary), Lincoln College, 1984. Doctor of Laws (honorary), John Marshall Law School, Chicago, 1984.

Career

Hartigan also was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1990 but lost the race to Republican Jim Edgar. With a bachelor"s degree in 1959. He received a juris doctor degree from Loyola University College of Law 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. 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. Following his election Time magazine named him as one of 200 future leaders of the country.

In the general election James R. Thompson and Dave O"Neal soundly defeated the Democratic team of Howlett and Hartigan.

Foreign 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.

Since then Hartigan has served Chairman of the World Trade Center Illinois and from 2002–2008 as a justice on the Illinois Appellate Court.

Hartigan retired voluntarily from the bench in 2004. In 2013 Hartigan was appointed to the Illinois Court of Claims.

Achievements

• Neil F. Hartigan has been listed as a reputable lawyer, state official by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Board directors Georgetown University, Library. International Relations Illinois Institute of Technology, Kent Law School, Columbus Cabrini Medical Center, Chicago Area council Boy Scouts of America, United Cerebral Palsy Association Greater Chicago. Member visiting committee Harris School of Public Policy University Chicago.

Former president, chairman Irish Fellowship Club Chicago. Executive board directors Chicago Association Commerce and Industry. Member advisory board Loyola University Law School, Chicago, Institute Psychiatry Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mental Health Association Illinois.

Chairman Superwalk March of Dimes, vice-chairman fundraiser, 1980. Presider Special Olympics Finals, 1984. Chairman Weitzman Institute Dinner.

Chairman Illinois Olympic Committee. Member Afghan Refugees Committee. Member Board Elder Artisans.

Member Community Trust Task Force on Aging. Member Diabetes Foundation, Field Museum National History, Hands Across American, Little Sister of the Poor, Museum of Science and Industry, Rosemont College, St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary, St. Ignatius Parish, Willows Foundation. Director Chicago President Organization.

Chairman Illinois World Trade Center. Member advisory council European Bank Reconstruction and Development. Fellow Institute of Medicine.

Member American Bar Association, Appellate Lawyers Association, Catholic Lawyers Guild Chicago, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Committee, American Association Retired Persons, National Association Attorneys General (chairman consumer protection and asbestos litigation committees, elderly and law subcommittee, representative to American Bar Association house of deals, vice chairman executive committee Midwest regional conference), Illinois Bar Association (board directors), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (life), Chicago Association Commerce and Industry (executive board directors), Council on Foreign Relations (Chicago chapter), Very Important Person Council Illinois (elected member 1977), National Criminal Justice Association, Reserve Officer Association United States, Vachel Lindsay Association Variety Club, Women's Bar Association, League of Women Voters, Knights of Columbus, Irish Fellowship Club Chicago (former president, chairman), Century Club, Economic Club Chicago, Hundred Club Cook County, Illinois Club for Catholic Women, Illinois Polish Association, League of United Latin American Citizens, Zionist Organization American.

Connections

Married Marge Hartigan, June 9, 1962. Children: John, Elizabeth, Laura, Bridget.

Father:

David Hartigan

Mother:

Coletta (Hogan) Hartigan

Spouse:

Marge Hartigan

child:

Bridget Hartigan

child:

Laura Hartigan

child:

John Hartigan

child:

Elizabeth Hartigan