SR0037 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0037 LRB096 05801 RCE 15879 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 14, of the Illinois Constitution provides that, when the Governor of the State of Illinois is tried on impeachment, the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court shall preside over the Senate; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to the Senate Impeachment Rules, on January 14, 2009, the Senate notified Thomas R. Fitzgerald, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, of the time and place fixed for consideration of the article of impeachment against Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois, and requested the Chief Justice to attend; and

WHEREAS, In the intervening days since January 14, 2009, Chief Justice Fitzgerald has presided over the Senate, when sitting as an impeachment tribunal for the purpose of trying the article of impeachment, for long hours over many days; and

WHEREAS, Chief Justice Fitzgerald, in presiding over the Senate, has exhibited extraordinary qualities of fairness, patience, equanimity, and wisdom; and

WHEREAS, By his manner of presiding over the Senate, Chief Justice Fitzgerald has contributed greatly to the Senate's decorum and has ensured that the impeachment trial proceedings were in all respects consistent with the Senate's Impeachment Rules and fair, impartial, and dignified to both the House Prosecutor and Governor; and

WHEREAS, The Senate and the State of Illinois are indebted to Chief Justice Fitzgerald for his distinguished and valued service in fulfilling his constitutional duty to preside over the Senate in the trial of the article of impeachment; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Senate expresses its profound gratitude to Thomas R. Fitzgerald, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, for his distinguished service in presiding over the Senate, while sitting as an impeachment tribunal for the purpose of trying the article of impeachment against Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court as a symbol of our appreciation for his distinguished service to the People of Illinois.