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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2003
Riverside Resident Patrick T. Murphy
Honored By Illinois State Bar Association

Cook County Public Guardian Patrick T. Murphy, of Riverside, was presented with a "presidential commendation" by Terrence J. Lavin, president of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), at the organization's Midyear Meeting held recently at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.

Murphy was recognized for his efforts in encouraging a full investigation of the recent Cook County Administration Building fire at 69 West Washington that killed three of his employees including two attorneys. The presentation was made before the 201-member policy-making Assembly of the state bar association.

The Cook County Public Guardian acts as attorney for abused and neglected children in Cook County and also acts as guardian for approximately 500 elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's-related diseases and roughly forty million dollars of their assets. As Public Guardian, a position he has held since 1978, Murphy is responsible for a $17 million annual budget and supervises a staff of 300, half of whom are lawyers, with the other half composed of social workers, paralegals, investigators and ancillary personnel.

Murphy began his legal career in 1964 in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, and two years later, volunteered for the Peace Corps in Somalia. In the years to follow, he devoted his professional time to non-profit legal organizations and later became a partner of a law firm before branching out on his own. He has and continues to represent clients in all three divisions at the trial and appellate court level.

Murphy graduated from Loyola University in 1961 and received his J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1964.

With offices in Springfield and Chicago, the 30,000-member Illinois State Bar Association provides professional services to Illinois lawyers, and education and services to the public.