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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 14, of the Illinois 
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Constitution provides that, when the Governor of the State of 
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Illinois is tried on impeachment, the Chief Justice of the 
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Illinois Supreme Court shall preside over the Senate; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Pursuant to the Senate Impeachment Rules, on 
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January 14, 2009, the Senate notified Thomas R. Fitzgerald, 
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Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, of the time and 
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place fixed for consideration of the article of impeachment 
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against Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois, 
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and requested the Chief Justice to attend; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In the intervening days since January 14, 2009, 
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Chief Justice Fitzgerald has presided over the Senate, when 
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sitting as an impeachment tribunal for the purpose of trying 
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the article of impeachment, for long hours over many days; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Chief Justice Fitzgerald, in presiding over the 
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Senate, has exhibited extraordinary qualities of fairness, 
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patience, equanimity, and wisdom; and

 
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    WHEREAS, By his manner of presiding over the Senate, Chief 
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Justice Fitzgerald has contributed greatly to the Senate's 
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decorum and has ensured that the impeachment trial proceedings 
 


 






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were in all respects consistent with the Senate's Impeachment 
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Rules and fair, impartial, and dignified to both the House 
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Prosecutor and Governor; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Senate and the State of Illinois are indebted 
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to Chief Justice Fitzgerald for his distinguished and valued 
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service in fulfilling his constitutional duty to preside over 
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the Senate in the trial of the article of impeachment; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Senate expresses 
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its profound gratitude to Thomas R. Fitzgerald, Chief Justice 
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of the Illinois Supreme Court, for his distinguished service in 
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presiding over the Senate, while sitting as an impeachment 
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tribunal for the purpose of trying the article of impeachment 
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against Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois; 
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and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court as 
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a symbol of our appreciation for his distinguished service to 
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the People of Illinois.