HR0122 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0122 LRB103 31312 ECR 58637 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, John R. Lausch Jr. is a native of the State of Illinois; born in Joliet in 1970, he graduated from Harvard College in 1992 and graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in 1996; and

WHEREAS, After his graduation from Northwestern University School of Law, John R. Lausch Jr. accepted a clerkship with the late Michael Stephen Kanne, who was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which is the federal judicial circuit with appellate jurisdiction over Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, While serving his appellate clerkship, John R. Lausch Jr. became intimately aware of the day-to-day work of the Northern District of Illinois, including the work of the office of the United States Attorney for this District; and

WHEREAS, Earning a high reputation among his fellow legal professionals, John R. Lausch Jr. worked as a lawyer in both the private sector and as a public prosecutor; he served as Assistant U.S. Attorney within the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1999 to 2010, where he specialized in the prosecution of narcotic offenses and gang crime; and

WHEREAS, After leaving the office of Assistant U.S. Attorney, John R. Lausch Jr. accepted a partnership at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he specialized in corporate investigations and litigation; and

WHEREAS, In 2017, John R. Lausch Jr. was named by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; after confirmation by the United States Senate, he was sworn in on November 22, 2017; and

WHEREAS, The position of federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Illinois is well known to be one of the most challenging jobs in law enforcement; although this office only covers part of Illinois, this section of the State is the section that has jurisdiction over most of the people, most of the illegal transactions, and most of the highest-ranking officials of the State; and

WHEREAS, During John R. Lausch Jr.'s time leading the Northern District, federal law enforcement took on many additional duties relating to the growing threat of violent crime, the growing presence of illegal drugs, the growing omens related to international relations, and the growing challenge of corruption among some Illinoisans; and

WHEREAS, John R. Lausch Jr. enjoyed bipartisan support for his leadership of the Northern District of Illinois due to his fair-minded approach at working to rid the State from the scourge of public corruption; and

WHEREAS, As time passes, many additional stories and narratives will be written about the work of the Northern District's office, headed by John R. Lausch Jr., in facing these and other harsh threats to the people of Illinois and the United States; and

WHEREAS, On March 1, 2023, John R. Lausch Jr. announced his resignation from the position of United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In his resignation announcement, John R. Lausch Jr. pointed towards the work done by his team to battle Chicago violent crime, to prosecute members and leaders of organized criminal street gangs, and to increase the priority placed upon the prosecution of street gun crime, including the illegal transfer of firearms to felons and other prohibited persons; and

WHEREAS, In his resignation announcement, John R. Lausch Jr. paid special tribute not only to his colleagues in the Northern District's office but also to those who have partnered with his office from the ranks of federal law enforcement, State law enforcement, and local law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, In his resignation announcement, John R. Lausch Jr. told his colleagues and the people of Illinois that "it has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago"; and

WHEREAS, The resignation of U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr. will be effective on Saturday, March 11, 2023; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank John R. Lausch Jr. for the tireless service that he displayed in facing the countless challenges of his office; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we look forward to John R. Lausch Jr.'s colleagues, and the next person chosen for the office of United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, continuing his work and their work; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be presented to John R. Lausch Jr., the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and to Morris "Sonny" Pasqual, the Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.