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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
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were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Judge Thomas R. 
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Smoker of Lake Forest on May 10, 2004; and
   
 
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    WHEREAS, Thomas R. Smoker was born September 29, 1949 in 
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Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up in Park Ridge, where he 
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attended Maine South High School; he received his undergraduate 
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degree at Valparaiso University; he then attended John Marshall 
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Law School where he earned his Juris Doctorate; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Upon admission to the Illinois State Bar, he began 
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his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Lake County 
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where he represented poor and indigent clients; he then began 
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his practice in the private sector, opening the law firm of 
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Walter and Smoker where he was a trial attorney specializing in 
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criminal defense litigation and matrimonial cases, he was known 
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for his integrity, sense of fairness and unmatched legal 
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abilities; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1997, he was appointed to the position of 
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Associate Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit after being rated 
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as highly qualified by the Lake County Bar Association; Judge 
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Smoker served in some of the most difficult and high volume 
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court rooms in Lake County, always being known for his prompt 
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and diligent attention to his cases and for the fairness of his 
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decisions; and
   
 
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    WHEREAS, In addition to his duties on the bench, he 
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actively went into the community routinely speaking at schools 
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and to parent groups about legal issues and participated in 
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school law related activities; he began the Law Merit Badge 
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program for Boy Scouts at the Lake County Courthouse; and
   
 
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    WHEREAS, Judge Smoker was a devout Christian and attended 
 


 






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Christ Church in Lake Forest; he participated in Bible Study 
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and other small group programs; he was the founder of the 
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Christian Legal Fellowship of Lake County, a group of 
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Attorneys, Judges, and other members of the legal community who 
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meet to study the Bible and share fellowship weekly; he was 
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also a highly sought after speaker for devotional and spiritual 
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programs, Divinity Schools, and to those with serious physical 
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illnesses; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Judge Thomas R. Smoker will be 
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deeply felt by many, especially his wife, JoAnn (nee Goode);  
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and his loving children, Beth and Emily;  his parents, Richard 
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and Frances Elizabeth Smoker; his brothers, James (Nicole) 
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Smoker and Stephen (Sharon) Smoker; his sisters, Linda (Tom) 
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Milbourne and Nancy (Ed) McCash; his many loving nieces and 
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nephews; and many dear friends and colleagues; and
 
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    WHEREAS, His family  walked with him in his journey through 
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life and gave him strength and peace through their love and 
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faith in The Lord; therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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Judge Thomas R. Smoker along all who knew and loved him and 
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extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and 
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community; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Judge Thomas R. Smoker as an 
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expression of our deepest sympathy.