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Lawyer who helped prosecute Gov. Ryan tapped for U.S. attorney's post
Zachary Fardon known for helping Northbrook family battle Notre Dame over sex attack allegations
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Zachary Fardon has been nominated to lead the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois. (Abel Uribe, Chicago Tribune / April 23, 2013)
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The lawyer picked Thursday to succeed Patrick Fitzgerald as Chicago's U.S. attorney is a former federal prosecutor best known for taking on corrupt politicians and powerful institutions such as the University of Notre Dame.
Zachary Fardon would take over an office that has made its mark nationally by putting crooked government officials behind bars but increasingly faces pressure to do more to help in the fight against Chicago's violent street gangs.
"Zachary Fardon will be unwavering in his commitment to justice, and I am confident he will serve the people of Illinois with excellence," President Barack Obama said in making the long-awaited announcement.
Fardon, best known for helping prosecute former Gov. George Ryan, has big shoes to fill in succeeding Fitzgerald, who stepped down last June as the longest-serving U.S. attorney in Chicago history. But colleagues say he is up to the task, possessing an even temperament, Southern charm, courtroom savvy, more management experience than many of his predecessors held and a varied legal background that will help in making the tough decisions on whom to prosecute.
Fardon's nomination needs the approval of the U.S. Senate, a process that could take several more months. He won the nod over Lori Lightfoot, who as a woman and an African-American would have represented a historic first for the Chicago office. More than 20 lawyers sought the powerful post with its 170 assistant U.S. attorneys and nearly $35 million budget.
Fardon grew up in Tennessee but has lived mostly in Chicago since 1997, except for a stint as the No. 2 official at the U.S. attorney's office in Nashville. For the past 61/2 years he has been a partner at the Latham & Watkins law firm, overseeing its Chicago litigation department and about 40 lawyers. The $155,540-a-year U.S. attorney's post would represent a sharp pay cut for him.
Fitzgerald, who served as Chicago's top federal prosecutor for nearly 11 years, called Fardon "fearlessly smart" and said he would benefit from having worked in more than one U.S. attorney's office. Fitzgerald was a federal prosecutor in New York before taking the top job in Chicago.
"You get to experience how some things are done the same and differently," Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said his biggest surprise in taking office in 2001 was how Chicagoans personalized the post, a "fact of life" that Fardon will need to accept.
"In New York, it was the U.S. attorney's office did X," he said. "In Chicago, it was U.S. Attorney Pat Fitzgerald did X."
Married and the father of three preteen children, Fardon relaxes by playing rock, pop and folk music on his guitar and running 6 to 7 miles during his lunch break. He completed last month's Boston Marathon in a little under three hours, his personal best, crossing the finish line about an hour before explosions killed three and injured more than 260. He was already at the airport when he learned of the terrorist attack.
In an op-ed piece last month in the Tribune, Fardon recounted how at the age of 46 he had expected this to be his last marathon but vowed he would return to Boston next year.
"Whether as a runner or as a spectator, I am all in for Boston 2014," he wrote.
With his nomination still to be confirmed, Fardon had little to say Thursday, calling his selection an honor.
In lauding Fardon's selection, Illinois U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk highlighted the need for the U.S. attorney's office to go after street gangs and gun violence in Chicago.
Friends say he has no future political ambitions and will continue the nonpolitical tradition of the U.S. attorney's office. Even in his private law practice, he has avoided politics, they said. He had never made a campaign contribution until David Hoffman, a friend and former colleague, sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010.
Hoffman, Chicago's former inspector general, recalled being unsure about how Fardon would respond when Hoffman made the call seeking the contribution. The two had worked together in the U.S. attorney's office.
"I do remember the phone call," Hoffman said. "Zach said, 'I've never given to a candidate before.' He made the contribution."
Records show that Fardon, who gave a $2,000 donation to Hoffman, has not contributed to another political candidate since.
Born in Kansas City, Mo., Fardon was the youngest of four children growing up in Knoxville, Tenn. His parents moved to Chicago in recent years largely to be closer to their grandchildren. His father, David, is a well-known orthopedic surgeon at Rush University Medical Center and his mother, Judy, is a retired elementary school English teacher.
Zachary Fardon would take over an office that has made its mark nationally by putting crooked government officials behind bars but increasingly faces pressure to do more to help in the fight against Chicago's violent street gangs.
"Zachary Fardon will be unwavering in his commitment to justice, and I am confident he will serve the people of Illinois with excellence," President Barack Obama said in making the long-awaited announcement.
Fardon, best known for helping prosecute former Gov. George Ryan, has big shoes to fill in succeeding Fitzgerald, who stepped down last June as the longest-serving U.S. attorney in Chicago history. But colleagues say he is up to the task, possessing an even temperament, Southern charm, courtroom savvy, more management experience than many of his predecessors held and a varied legal background that will help in making the tough decisions on whom to prosecute.
Fardon's nomination needs the approval of the U.S. Senate, a process that could take several more months. He won the nod over Lori Lightfoot, who as a woman and an African-American would have represented a historic first for the Chicago office. More than 20 lawyers sought the powerful post with its 170 assistant U.S. attorneys and nearly $35 million budget.
Fardon grew up in Tennessee but has lived mostly in Chicago since 1997, except for a stint as the No. 2 official at the U.S. attorney's office in Nashville. For the past 61/2 years he has been a partner at the Latham & Watkins law firm, overseeing its Chicago litigation department and about 40 lawyers. The $155,540-a-year U.S. attorney's post would represent a sharp pay cut for him.
Fitzgerald, who served as Chicago's top federal prosecutor for nearly 11 years, called Fardon "fearlessly smart" and said he would benefit from having worked in more than one U.S. attorney's office. Fitzgerald was a federal prosecutor in New York before taking the top job in Chicago.
"You get to experience how some things are done the same and differently," Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said his biggest surprise in taking office in 2001 was how Chicagoans personalized the post, a "fact of life" that Fardon will need to accept.
"In New York, it was the U.S. attorney's office did X," he said. "In Chicago, it was U.S. Attorney Pat Fitzgerald did X."
Married and the father of three preteen children, Fardon relaxes by playing rock, pop and folk music on his guitar and running 6 to 7 miles during his lunch break. He completed last month's Boston Marathon in a little under three hours, his personal best, crossing the finish line about an hour before explosions killed three and injured more than 260. He was already at the airport when he learned of the terrorist attack.
In an op-ed piece last month in the Tribune, Fardon recounted how at the age of 46 he had expected this to be his last marathon but vowed he would return to Boston next year.
"Whether as a runner or as a spectator, I am all in for Boston 2014," he wrote.
With his nomination still to be confirmed, Fardon had little to say Thursday, calling his selection an honor.
In lauding Fardon's selection, Illinois U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk highlighted the need for the U.S. attorney's office to go after street gangs and gun violence in Chicago.
Friends say he has no future political ambitions and will continue the nonpolitical tradition of the U.S. attorney's office. Even in his private law practice, he has avoided politics, they said. He had never made a campaign contribution until David Hoffman, a friend and former colleague, sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010.
Hoffman, Chicago's former inspector general, recalled being unsure about how Fardon would respond when Hoffman made the call seeking the contribution. The two had worked together in the U.S. attorney's office.
"I do remember the phone call," Hoffman said. "Zach said, 'I've never given to a candidate before.' He made the contribution."
Records show that Fardon, who gave a $2,000 donation to Hoffman, has not contributed to another political candidate since.
Born in Kansas City, Mo., Fardon was the youngest of four children growing up in Knoxville, Tenn. His parents moved to Chicago in recent years largely to be closer to their grandchildren. His father, David, is a well-known orthopedic surgeon at Rush University Medical Center and his mother, Judy, is a retired elementary school English teacher.
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