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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, the first 
4woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court and its first 
5female chief justice, who passed away on February 23, 2013; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow was a pioneer in the law 
7profession during a career that spanned more than half a 
8century; her legal career began when she was the lone woman in 
9her graduating class at the School of Law at Loyola University 
10in 1953; she became the first woman to try felony cases as an 
11assistant Cook County State's attorney and continued her "first 
12woman" status when her colleagues on the Supreme Court chose 
13her as chief justice; throughout her career, she was a mentor 
14to other women in the law; and
  
 
  
15    WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow was elected to the Circuit Court 
16in 1976;  in 1985, she went on to serve on the Appellate Court, 
17where she was the first woman to serve as chair of the 
18Executive Committee; she was elected to the Supreme Court in 
191992 and served on the court until she retired on July 5, 2006; 
20and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow served as chief justice of the 
22Illinois Supreme Court from September 2002 to September 2005; 
 
 
SR0136- 2 -LRB098 10989 GRL 42083 r

1and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow was a gifted pianist; she was 
3active in various charities and foundations and her church, St. 
4Mary of the Woods, was a huge part of her life; she enjoyed 
5opera, restaurants, and a good chocolate dessert; she graduated 
6from Immaculata High School and Rosary College (now Dominican 
7University) in River Forest; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow was preceded in death by her 
9husband, Emmett; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Justice McMorrow is survived by her daughter, Mary 
11Ann, and her sister, Frances; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14Justice McMorrow and extend our sincere condolences to her 
15family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it 
16further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Justice Mary Ann McMorrow as an 
19expression of our deepest sympathy.