Neil Hartigan

Hartigan grew up in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, in an Irish Catholic family. His father David was Alderman of the 49th Ward.[1] Hartigan graduated from Loyola Academy. He graduated from Georgetown University[2] in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor's degree in 1959. He received a juris doctor degree from Loyola University College of Law[3] in 1962.

Upon completion of law school Hartigan worked for 10 years for the city of Chicago. He served in various roles: as the city's legislative counsel in Springfield, as attorney for the Chicago Board of Health and as general counsel for the Chicago Park District. Hartigan was elected the Democratic Committeeman for the 49th ward in 1968 and served in the position until stepping down in 1980. Former state legislator Michael Brady defeated Hartigan's choice, Cook County Treasurer Edward J. Rosewell in the Democratic primary.[4]

In 1972, Hartigan was selected as the running mate to the party's endorsed candidate, then-lieutenant governor Paul Simon. Simon lost the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Dan Walker, while Hartigan beat Walker's hand-picked running mate, Carbondale mayor Neal Eckert. Walker and Hartigan won the general election, making Hartigan, at age 34, the youngest lieutenant governor in the nation. Following his election Time magazine named him as one of 200 future leaders of the country.

Hartigan won renomination in 1976, but Michael J. Howlett ousted Walker at the top of the ticket. In the general election James R. Thompson and Dave O'Neal soundly defeated the Democratic team of Howlett and Hartigan.

For a time, Hartigan left public life for the business world. He returned in 1982, winning election as Illinois attorney general. In 1986, he briefly sought the Democratic nomination for governor but withdrew when Adlai Stevenson III entered the race. Hartigan then ran for reelection as attorney general, and won with the highest number of votes of any statewide office that year. In 1990 Hartigan won the Democratic nomination for Illinois Governor but was defeated in the General Election by Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar.

Hartigan has served as Chairman of the World Trade Center Illinois.[5]

In 2002, Hartigan won election to the Illinois Appellate Court from the First District, which is composed of Cook County, Illinois to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Robert Chapman Buckley.[6][7]

After two years, Hartigan chose to retire voluntarily from the bench. Hartigan's retirement date was June 1, 2004. He was succeeded by P. Scott Neville Jr..[8]

He was a member of Hillary Clinton's Illinois Steering Committee and February 5 Rapid Responders.[9]

On March 22, 2013, Governor Pat Quinn appointed Hartigan to the Illinois Court of Claims for a term starting March 18, 2013 and ending January 21, 2019. Hartigan was confirmed by the Illinois Senate on May 2, 2019. He succeed Norma F. Jann.[10] The Court rules on claims filed against state, except those under Workers' Compensation or Workers' Occupational DiseasesActs, or claims for expenses in civil litigation.[11]

• 1973–1974 Illinois Blue Book
• 1975–1976 Illinois Blue Book p36