IL HR0904

Honors former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, who was born February 21, 1946, in Chicago and grew up in Villa Park after attending Saint Procopius Academy and College in DuPage County.

Recognizes Ryan's legal career including service as a prosecutor in the DuPage County State's Attorney's office beginning in 1971, his election as DuPage County State's Attorney in 1984, and his election as Illinois Attorney General in November 1994.

Acknowledges Ryan's leadership in filing a major lawsuit against the U.S. tobacco industry in November 1996 and negotiating a landmark settlement in 1998 that has resulted in $9.1 billion in payments to Illinois over 24 years and imposed nationwide restrictions on tobacco advertising including cartoon mascots.

Notes Ryan's work establishing the Statewide Grand Jury Bureau system for multi-county prosecutions, his 1998 re-election as Attorney General, his unsuccessful 2002 gubernatorial campaign, and his subsequent teaching at Benedictine University and law practice.

Memorializes Ryan's death on June 12, 2022, in DuPage County and expresses the House's respect for his contributions to Illinois law enforcement and public service across partisan lines.