Former U.S. Prosecutor Joins U of C Faculty

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Patrick Fitzgerald, former U.S. Attorney for Chicago joins University of Chicago Law School.
Patrick Fitzgerald, former U.S. Attorney for Chicago joins University of Chicago Law School.

A high profile former prosecutor is beginning a new career with a Hyde Park university after stepping down last June from his Illinois District U.S. Attorney post.

Patrick Fitzgerald, the prosecutor who spearheaded investigations leading to the convictions of two Illinois governors, is now the inaugural Steven Feirson Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Chicago (U of C) Law School, according to a press release announcement.

"I am thrilled to become part of the University of Chicago community, Fitzgerald said via press release.

Fitzgerald added he is looking forward to teaching this spring and interacting with extraordinary students and faculty members.

"I am particularly delighted to do so as part of a lectureship named for Steven Feirson, for whom I have great regard," Fitzgerald said.

First to hold the Feirson Lectureship, named for alumnus Steven B. Feirson, JD'75, Fitzgerald will lecture on an ongoing basis in spring 2013 and also co-teach a course on national security law with at least one class every year going forward.

"Pat Fitzgerald is one of the most respected and skilled attorneys of his generation," said U of C Law School, Dean Michael Schill, the Harry N. Wyatt Professor of Law, via the press release.

Fitzgerald has already been involved with the U of C Law School, having served as keynote speaker for the 2012 symposium of the University of Chicago Legal Forum on "Combatting Corruption" and as an honored speaker at other student events.

Schill expects Fitzgerald's involvement in the curricular and co-curricular activities of the Law School will only grow stronger as a result of his assuming the Feirson Lectureship.

"His unimpeachable ethics, extraordinary brilliance and astounding work ethic make him one of the finest public servants this country has ever known,"Schill said.

Fitzgerald served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois for more than a decade and presided over investigations leading to the convictions of Illinois Govs., George Ryan for racketeering and fraud and Rod Blagojevich for public corruption.

Previously, Fitzgerald served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and chief of the Organized Crime-Terrorism Unit in the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

In addition to other terrorism cases, Fitzgerald participated in the prosecution of United States v. Usama Bin Laden, in which the defendants received four guilty verdicts and four life sentences on various offenses, including conspiracy to murder United States nationals overseas and the August 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Tanzania.

In October 2012, Fitzgerald became a partner in the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Established with a generous endowment gift from Feirson in 2013, the Lectureship is a way to attract distinguished practicing lawyers to teach courses and become involved with the Law School.

Currently, a partner at Dechert LLP, Feirson serves as a deputy chair of the firm and is a member of its Policy Committee where he focuses his practice on securities and financial services litigation and corporate governance arenas.

"The Law School continues to occupy a very special place in the field of legal education," said Feirson via press release.

U of C students will benefit immeasurably from Fitzgerald's presence at the Law School Schill said.

As for the now vacant U.S. Attorney position, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) sent the White House a list of four finalists that include four former federal prosecutors: Jonathan Bunge, Zach Fardon, Lori Lightfoot (an African American woman), and Gil Soffer.

By Deborah Bayliss

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