Lisa Madigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lisa Madigan
41st Attorney General of Illinois
In office January 13, 2003 – January 14, 2019
Governor	Rod Blagojevich Pat Quinn Bruce Rauner
Preceded by	Jim Ryan
Succeeded by	Kwame Raoul
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 17th district
In office January 13, 1999 – January 7, 2003
Preceded by	Bruce A. Farley
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1966-07-30) July 30, 1966 (age 59) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Pat Byrnes
Children	2 daughters
Parent	Michael Madigan (adoptive father)
Education	Georgetown University (BA) Loyola University, Chicago (JD)

Lisa Murray Madigan (born July 30, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. For 16 years, from 2003 to 2019, she served as the Attorney General for the state of Illinois. The Attorney General is the top lawyer for the state government. Madigan was the first woman ever to have this job in Illinois.

Her adoptive father is Michael Madigan, who was a very powerful politician in Illinois for many years.

In 2018, Lisa Madigan decided not to run for Attorney General again. A new Attorney General, Kwame Raoul, was elected to take her place.

Education and Early Work

Madigan went to high school at The Latin School of Chicago. She earned her bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in 1988. Later, she went to law school at Loyola University Chicago to become a lawyer.

Before she was a lawyer, Madigan was a teacher and a community organizer. She created after-school programs to help kids stay focused on their education and avoid trouble. She also volunteered as a high school teacher in South Africa during a time of unfair racial segregation known as apartheid.

After law school, she worked as a litigator, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court.

Political Career

Madigan speaking at the Democratic National Convention in 2008.

In 1998, Madigan was elected to the Illinois State Senate when she was 32 years old. She represented the 17th district of Illinois. During her time as a state senator, she served with Barack Obama, who would later become President of the United States. Their offices were right next to each other.

Illinois Attorney General

In 2002, Madigan ran for Attorney General of Illinois and won a close election. As Attorney General, she was the state's main legal officer.

In 2004, she argued a case in front of the United States Supreme Court, the highest court in the country. This was a big deal, as most Attorneys General don't do this personally. The case was called Illinois v. Caballes. She won the case, which confirmed that police could use specially trained dogs to find illegal items during traffic stops.

Madigan had a difficult working relationship with the governor of Illinois at the time, Rod Blagojevich. In 2008, she took legal action to have the governor removed from his job because of serious concerns about his conduct. The governor was later removed from office by the state government.

Attorney General Madigan at a press conference in 2012.

Madigan was very popular and was re-elected easily in 2006 and 2010.

Future Political Plans

For many years, people thought Madigan might run for a higher office, like Governor of Illinois or U.S. Senator. In 2008, The New York Times even listed her as one of the women who might one day become the first female President of the United States.

However, in 2009, she announced she would run for re-election as Attorney General instead of seeking a higher office. In 2013, many people expected her to run for governor. She decided not to, partly because her father planned to remain in his powerful political position. Instead, she ran for and won another term as Attorney General.

On September 15, 2017, Madigan announced she would not run for re-election in 2018. After leaving office, she joined the law firm Kirkland & Ellis as a partner.

Awards and Honors

• In 2005, Madigan received the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award. This award is given to young Americans who make a positive impact through public service.

Personal Life

Madigan was born Lisa Murray. She changed her last name to Madigan when she was 18 and was later adopted by her stepfather, Michael Madigan.

She is married to Pat Byrnes, who is a cartoonist. They have two daughters.

Electoral History

• 2014 election for Attorney General

• 2010 election for Attorney General

• 2006 election for Attorney General

• 2002 Democratic primary election for Attorney General

See also

• Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates
• List of female state attorneys general in the United States