Clark's official photograph, c. 1977.

William G. Clark (July 16, 1924 – August 17, 2001) was an American politician and jurist.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Clark went to Loyola University Chicago, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and received his law degree from DePaul University College of Law. In 1952, Clark was appointed by Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson to be the attorney for the public administrator of Cook County, Illinois. In 1952, 1956, and 1958, Clark was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives as a Democrat and served as majority leader. In 1954, Clark was elected to the Illinois State Senate. In 1960, Clark was elected Illinois Attorney General and served until 1969. Clark then practiced law. In the 1976 general election, Clark defeated Republican candidate Lawrence X. Pusateri, a former state legislator and past president of the Illinois Bar Association, to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Thomas E. Kluczynski.[1] He served as chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court from 1985 to 1988 and on the court generally until 1992. Clark died in Skokie, Illinois from complications due to diabetes in 2001.[2][3]

Notes

  1. ^ Day, William L., ed. (September 1976). "For the Record: Judicial Candidates". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. 2 (9). Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  2. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1991-1992,' Biographical Sketch of William G. Clark, pg. 166
  3. ^ 'William G. Clark, 77 Ex Supreme Court justice, attorney general, legislator,' Chicago Tribune, James Janega, August 18, 2001
Party political offices Preceded byJames L. O'Keefe Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Illinois 1960, 1964 Succeeded byFrancis S. Lorenz Preceded bySidney R. Yates Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Illinois(Class 3) 1968 Succeeded byAdlai Stevenson III Legal offices Preceded byWilliam L. Guild Attorney General of Illinois 1961–1969 Succeeded byWilliam J. Scott Preceded byThomas E. Kluczynski Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court 1976–1992 Succeeded byMary Ann McMorrow