SR0743 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0743 LRB094 20416 HSS 58587 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of the Honorable Judge Barbara J. Badger of New Lenox on April 11, 2006; and

WHEREAS, She was born in Evergreen Park and grew up in Crete, Illinois, with her parents, Dorothy and Thomas Badger, and her sister, Margie; she was a member of Crete-Monee High School class of 1968; she was a 1972 graduate of the University of Illinois and a 1976 graduate of John Marshall Law School; and

WHEREAS, She was admitted to practice law and started her career as an Assistant State's Attorney in Will County, where she was the first female prosecutor hired by then Will County State's Attorney and now Senator Ed Petka, who named her to head the Sexual Crimes Prosecution Unit; she worked four years under his leadership; during that time, she also taught three semesters of Criminal Law and Procedures at the Joliet Junior College; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, she joined the Public Defender's Office, becoming the Chief Public Defender in 1990; during that time, she also had a private practice; she served as public defender from 1990 to 1995, and when county finances were tight, she went part-time and took a pay cut to avert pay cuts for assistants in her office; and

WHEREAS, The culmination of her career was being sworn in as an Associate Judge of Will County in 1995 and serving on the bench; she wore her robe with extreme pride and presided over juvenile, civil, and criminal proceedings; and

WHEREAS, Judge Badger was admired for her persistence, focus, dedication, and knowledge; she was straightforward and honest; she strongly believed in the justice system and loved her country; and

WHEREAS, The law was of the utmost importance to her, but she also loved the Illini, the White Sox, and her cats; she had a fondness for Chief Illiniwek and was especially proud of her hero second baseman Hall of Famer Nellie Fox; she met Mr. Fox when she was a child at White Sox games and later served on the committee to get him admitted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; she was thrilled to go to the first game of the World Series and cheer for her 2005 World Championship White Sox; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Judge Barbara J. Badger has been deeply felt by many, especially her father, Thomas Badger; her sister, Marjorie Humphreys; and her longtime friend, Lynn Jencon; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Judge Barbara J. Badger, and we extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; she will be remembered as an extraordinary woman, judge, friend, daughter, and sister; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to her family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.