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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 14, of the Illinois
3 Constitution provides that, when the Governor of the State of
4 Illinois is tried on impeachment, the Chief Justice of the
5 Illinois Supreme Court shall preside over the Senate; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Pursuant to the Senate Impeachment Rules, on
7 January 14, 2009, the Senate notified Thomas R. Fitzgerald,
8 Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, of the time and
9 place fixed for consideration of the article of impeachment
10 against Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois,
11 and requested the Chief Justice to attend; and
 
12     WHEREAS, In the intervening days since January 14, 2009,
13 Chief Justice Fitzgerald has presided over the Senate, when
14 sitting as an impeachment tribunal for the purpose of trying
15 the article of impeachment, for long hours over many days; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Chief Justice Fitzgerald, in presiding over the
17 Senate, has exhibited extraordinary qualities of fairness,
18 patience, equanimity, and wisdom; and
 
19     WHEREAS, By his manner of presiding over the Senate, Chief
20 Justice Fitzgerald has contributed greatly to the Senate's
21 decorum and has ensured that the impeachment trial proceedings

 

 

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1 were in all respects consistent with the Senate's Impeachment
2 Rules and fair, impartial, and dignified to both the House
3 Prosecutor and Governor; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The Senate and the State of Illinois are indebted
5 to Chief Justice Fitzgerald for his distinguished and valued
6 service in fulfilling his constitutional duty to preside over
7 the Senate in the trial of the article of impeachment;
8 therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
10 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Senate expresses
11 its profound gratitude to Thomas R. Fitzgerald, Chief Justice
12 of the Illinois Supreme Court, for his distinguished service in
13 presiding over the Senate, while sitting as an impeachment
14 tribunal for the purpose of trying the article of impeachment
15 against Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois;
16 and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18 presented to the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court as
19 a symbol of our appreciation for his distinguished service to
20 the People of Illinois.