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92_HR0244
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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to recognize notable individuals
4 from the State of Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, Eugene Pincham has had a successful law and
6 political career supporting and defending victims of
7 injustice from the State of Illinois; and
8 WHEREAS, At an early age, Eugene Pincham was taught by
9 his mother that the purpose of life was to help others in
10 need; in 1931, he learned valuable lessons in justice and
11 morality in his home state of Mississippi when nine
12 African-American youths were charged with a crime that they
13 were clearly innocent of; the case left a serious impression
14 on Mr. Pincham's life after the judge in the trial made the
15 politically-destructive decision to throw out a guilty
16 verdict, thereby ending the judge's career; from that moment
17 on, Eugene Pincham set forth on a career dedicated to helping
18 individuals who are victims of injustice; and
19 WHEREAS, Eugene Pincham graduated from Tennessee State
20 University in 1947, and Chicago's Northwestern University Law
21 School; after graduation, he went to work for noted black
22 attorney, Joseph Clayton at twenty dollars a week, and took
23 service jobs on the side; by 1959, Mr. Pincham was developing
24 his legal practice; and
25 WHEREAS, During the 1960's, Eugene Pincham established a
26 highly successful law practice and developed a solid
27 reputation; he was known for his mastery of legal precedent
28 and his chokehold on the facts; he was able to deliver final
29 arguments that inspired applause from an awed audience; and
30 WHEREAS, After persuasion by other judges and his wife,
31 Eugene Pincham accepted a Democratic Party nomination for a
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1 Cook County Circuit Court judgeship and later an Appellate
2 judgeship; Mr. Pincham continued to judge his cases solely on
3 factual evidence, even when he was heavily criticized for his
4 judicial decisions; and
5 WHEREAS, In 1990, Eugene Pincham ran in the Democratic
6 Party's primary election for the position of Cook County
7 Board President and was defeated by Richard Phelan; he later
8 made courageous but unsuccessful runs for Mayor of Chicago,
9 and Cook County States Attorney; and
10 WHEREAS, Over the years Eugene Pincham's message of
11 helping the African-American community has been consistent;
12 recently he volunteered his services to represent our
13 colleague, State Representative Annazette Collins from the
14 10th District, who was discharged by her employer because she
15 decided to run for public office; and
16 WHEREAS, Eugene Pincham has made serious impressions in
17 our legal and judicial system by standing up for the victims
18 of injustice; he will always be regarded as an individual who
19 would risk his career for standing up for what he believes is
20 right; therefore, be it
21 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
22 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
23 we honor the exemplary career of Eugene Pincham who has has
24 served as an advocate for the victims of injustice in the
25 State of Illinois; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
27 presented to Eugene Pincham as an expression of our esteem.
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