Thomas Courtney

Background

Courtney was born in Chicago, Illinois to James R. Courtney and Catherine (Hussey) Courtney.

Career

In 1927 he was elected to the Illinois State Senate from the 11th District, serving one term of six years. In his last year in the legislature, Courtney ran successfully for Cook County State"s Attorney, and for the next dozen years held that office. During his tenure, Courtney frequently made local and even national news for such actions as the "railroaded" prosecution of mobster Roger Touhy for the fake kidnapping of Jake "The Barber" Factor.

Investigating a CTA "L" crash where 20 persons died, raiding betting parlors, and raiding slot machines.

Numerous raids in 1938 netted headlines but no convictions and are viewed by historians as political show. While State"s Attorney Courtney was twice a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Horner, however, had reconciled with the Democratic bosses, and without Horner"s support, Courtney was beaten by a 2:1 margin. In 1944, Courtney was the Democratic nominee for governor of Illinois, losing in the general election to Republican incumbent Dwight H. Green.

The next year, 1945, he became a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County and served on the bench for the next quarter-century, until 1970.

He died the year after he left the bench, in 1971, in Chicago.

Membership

Courtney was a Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Connections

ally:

Henry Horner