HR0788 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0788 LRB095 14059 GRL 39933 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Francis D. Morrissey of Hyde Park, who passed away on October 11, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Francis Morrissey grew up in St. Columbanus Parish on the south side of Chicago before entering Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake, where he received a doctorate in sacred theology; he entered law school at Loyola University, where he was a Kirkland Scholar and the law review editor; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Loyola University in 1958, Francis Morrissey joined the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, achieving the status of partner four years later; while working at Baker & McKenzie, he prosecuted more than 500 civil appeals and chaired firm management committees both nationally and internationally; he also served as a bar examiner and later president of the Illinois Board of Bar Examiners, the National Conference of Bar Examiners, and the Illinois Appellate Lawyers during his tenure; while serving as bar examiner and president, he proposed a separate exam on ethics for prospective lawyers, a practice now employed by 46 states nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Following Francis Morrissey's retirement from Baker & McKenzie in 1995, he began teaching at John Marshall Law School in Chicago as a "distinguished visiting professor" of ethics; his jovial nature and intimate familiarity with the bar exam made him popular among fledgling lawyers; he also joined the Office of Legal Services of the Archdiocese of Chicago in December 1995, where he worked one day a week as pro bono counsel in the areas of insurance law and risk and tort law; and

WHEREAS, Francis Morrissey was a member of many law organizations; he was a former member of the ABA House of Delegates; he served on the Council of the Section of Legal Education and on the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association; he was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers; he served as editor of the CBA Record and the ABA's Brief; he originated the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination; and he was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Francis Morrissey is survived by his wife, Corinne; his son, Francis P. Morrissey; his daughter, Mary Kwasny; and his four grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Francis D. Morrissey; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Francis D. Morrissey as an expression of our sympathy.