Background
Gorman was born in Chicago and died at his Chicago home.
Gorman was born in Chicago and died at his Chicago home.
Northwestern University.
Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1940 after graduation from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Gorman was a conscientious objector in the early years of World World War II until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, at which time he joined American forces, served as an interpreter with the allied army in France, and rose to the rank of lieutenant. After the war he practiced probate and civil rights law and was counsel for Roosevelt University in Chicago. While at the Northwestern University Law School, Gorman was elected Justice (President) Of Phi Alpha Delta, the country"s largest co-ed legal fraternity.
Later, he became Justice of the Chicago Alumni Chapter and was also elected District Justice which covered a four state area.
Gorman received his law degree in 1940 from Chicago-Kent College of Law. After graduation from law school, he was admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association on October 10, 1940 and immediately entered private practice.
Shortly after war was declared, Gorman served four years as a lieutenant in the United States. Army, being honorably discharged in January 1946. After serving in World World War II, he practiced probate and civil rights law and was counsel for Roosevelt University in Chicago from the time of the school’s inception during the 1940s until his retirement four decades later.
Other clients included Roy East. Eaton, who was wrongly imprisoned for 16 years for robbery before another man confessed to the crime.
The story caught the attention of the national media, including the Saturday Evening Post. Eaton"s case was later documented in an episode of National Broadcasting Company"s Armstrong Circle Theatre entitled "Error in Judgement" that featured an interview with Gorman in the closing segment.
He also successfully defended many conscientious objectors to the Vietnam War on a pro bono basis, winning 19 out of 20 such cases that he took on.