Edward Rowan Finnegan
Encyclopedia
Edward Rowan Finnegan of Chicago
was a U.S. Representative from Illinois
, 1961 until 1964.
Finnegan was born in Chicago and graduated with a BA from Loyola University Chicago
and a law degree from the DePaul University
School of Law in 1930. He started practicing as an attorney in 1931 and then served as an Assistant State's attorney in Cook County
. Later, Finnegan served as the Assistant Corporation Counsel for Chicago.
Finnegan unsuccessfully sought the Democratic
nomination for the position of a Chicago municipal court judge in 1939.
In 1960, Finnegan was elected to Congress from Illinois
' 12th district. He was subsequently re-elected in 1962 (this time to Illinois
' 9th district due to redistricting). In 1964, the machine bosses persuaded him to withdraw from his re-election race in order to ensure Sidney Yates' return to Congress after his unsuccessful 1962 U.S. Senate bid.
In return for his co-operation, Finnegan was appointed as a judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County
. He resigned his seat in Congress on December 6, 1964 and commenced his service on the bench the following day. He continued to serve until his death in 1971.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
was a U.S. Representative from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, 1961 until 1964.
Finnegan was born in Chicago and graduated with a BA from Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
and a law degree from the DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
School of Law in 1930. He started practicing as an attorney in 1931 and then served as an Assistant State's attorney in Cook County
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
. Later, Finnegan served as the Assistant Corporation Counsel for Chicago.
Finnegan unsuccessfully sought the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for the position of a Chicago municipal court judge in 1939.
In 1960, Finnegan was elected to Congress from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
' 12th district. He was subsequently re-elected in 1962 (this time to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
' 9th district due to redistricting). In 1964, the machine bosses persuaded him to withdraw from his re-election race in order to ensure Sidney Yates' return to Congress after his unsuccessful 1962 U.S. Senate bid.
In return for his co-operation, Finnegan was appointed as a judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County
Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County
The Circuit Court of Cook County is the largest of the 22 circuits in Illinois as well as one of the largest unified court systems in the world. It was created by a 1964 amendment to the Illinois Constitution which reorganized the courts of Illinois...
. He resigned his seat in Congress on December 6, 1964 and commenced his service on the bench the following day. He continued to serve until his death in 1971.