Thomas P. Sullivan receives George N. Leighton Justice Award
The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission honored Thomas P. Sullivan, a partner at the Chicago firm of Jenner & Block, as the 2013 recipient of the George N. Leighton Justice Award on Monday.
The award is given by the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission to honor Retired U.S. District Court Judge George N. Leighton. The award recognizes one who has given exceptional service to the legal community and exhibits the qualities that personified Judge Leighton's character, service and legal career.
"The George N. Leighton Justice Award is given to Thomas Sullivan in recognition of his distinguished service to the legal community in Illinois for more than 50 years," Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman said. "We congratulate him on receiving this most deserving award."
Chief Justice Garman and Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke serve as liaisons to the Historic Preservation Commission.
Mr. Sullivan is a prominent Illinois attorney known for his involvement in notable constitutional cases, investigations, and contributions to public policy and law. He has handled civil, criminal and appellate litigation for more than 55 years. After graduating from Loyola University Law School in Chicago in 1952, he served two years in the Army. After his service in the military, he began working for Jenner & Block in 1954.
Mr. Sullivan was counsel on the case leading to the landmark 1968 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Witherspoon v. Illinois, prohibiting trial judges and prosecutors from using peremptory challenges to exclude potential jurors because of personal opposition to the death penalty. Over 350 inmates, including Witherspoon, had their death sentences reversed as a result.
From 1977-198 1, he was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. While serving as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Sullivan, along with the FBI, decided to launch a full investigation into judges, lawyers, and other government officials throughout Cook County. That led to the conviction of judges, lawyers and other court officials that was called the Operation Greylord investigation.
He has also been a leading advocate for electronic recording of interrogations for more than a decade and helped draft state legislation signed into law by Gov. Quinn last August, requiring police to record more interrogations of criminal suspects. Sullivan has also represented many indigent persons in civil and criminal litigation, including prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
"I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the award than Tom Sullivan," Judge Leighton said.
For the past four years, the Historic Preservation Commission has given the Leighton Award with Judge Leighton receiving the inaugural award in 2009. In 2010, retired Illinois Supreme Court Justice Benjamin K. Miller, who is currently of counsel at Jenner & Block, received the award. In 2011, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens was the recipient of the award.
The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission was created by the Legislature in 2007 to assist and advise the Illinois Supreme Court in collecting and preserving documents, artifacts and the rich history relating to the Illinois judiciary, as well as performing an educational function. The Commission served in an advisory capacity in the current rehabilitation of the Illinois Supreme Comt Building, which opened in 1908.
The Commission also seeks to accomplish much of its work in partnership with historical and cultural institutions; bar associations, universities, law schools, and federal, state, and local agencies.
Nine members comprise the governing body, with former Illinois Governor James R. Thompson serving as the Commission's chair.
The Supreme Court, the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President each appoint two members; and the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts serves as ex officio. John A. Lupton serves as executive director/director of History Programs for the Commission.