Click here to view video of the Riley Lecture.
DeKalb, Ill.-- Northern Illinois University College of Law is pleased to announce that Lisa Madigan, Attorney General for the state of Illinois, will present the 17th Annual Francis X. Riley Lecture on Professionalism on Friday, March 26 at 3 p.m. Attorney General Madigan will present her lecture in the Francis X. Riley Courtroom at the Northern Illinois University College of Law, Swen Parson Hall in DeKalb.
Elected in November 2002, Madigan became the first female to serve as the Illinois Attorney General and one of only a handful of female Attorneys General in the country. She was elected to a second term in November 2006, earning the largest vote total of any statewide candidate in that election.
Often recognized for her leadership and integrity, Madigan has brought a high level of activism to the Office of Illinois Attorney General. As the state's chief legal officer, Madigan's proactive approach to her duties has attracted national attention. Her key initiatives since taking office include Protecting Communities from Sex Offenders and Online Predators, Consumer Protection, Safeguarding Our Environment, and Fighting for Open and Accessible Government.
Over the course of her career, many organizations have recognized and honored her accomplishments. Madigan was the recipient in 2005 of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award, an honor presented annually to an American elected official whose contributions in office demonstrate the impact and value of public service in the spirit of President Kennedy.
In 2006, Madigan was one of 24 elected officials chosen to receive an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellowship. The fellowship program recognizes the nation's most outstanding young political leaders and is focused on the ethics and responsibilities of public leadership and the study of democratic values.
Before her election as Attorney General, Madigan served in the Illinois Senate and worked as a litigator for a Chicago law firm. Prior to becoming an attorney, she was a teacher and community advocate, developing after-school programs to help keep kids involved in education and away from drugs and gangs.
The Francis X. Riley Lecture on Professionalism was established in 1994 to honor Professor Emeritus Riley, who devoted his life to the law and legal education. The lecture series brings distinguished speakers to the Northern Illinois University College of Law to discuss current issues relating to the legal profession. Professor Riley passed away on September 14, 2006. He was 93. This Lecture Series will continue to serve as part of his legacy at the College of Law and within the legal community.
There will be a reception following the lecture. The lecture and reception are free and open to the public. Attendees are also invited to stay and join us for our annual Public Interest Law Society Auction.
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For more information, contact:
Melody Mitchell
Alumni Events & Public Relations
(815) 753-9655 or mmitchell@niu.edu