Locke Lord Partner to Run for Ill. Gov; Meanwhile, Blago Aide Pleads Guilty
On the same day Lisa Madigan announced that she will run for re-election as Illinois attorney general and not for governor, Locke Lord partner and Illinois state senator Kirk Dillard threw his hat into the ring.
“I’m glad she’s not going to be my opponent in the general election,” Dillard, a Republican, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I believe my chances are much better [vs.] Pat Quinn or someone else than Lisa Madigan.”
The Am Law Daily points out that current Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has a BigLaw connection: His brother Thomas, is head of the general litigation group at Schiff Hardin.
Quinn became governor in January after former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office. Blagojevich, his then-chief of staff John Harris and four others were indicted in April for racketeering conspiracy, extortion and wire fraud conspiracy. The Chicago Tribune reports that Harris pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single count of wire fraud and will testify against Blagojevich. Prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of less than three years for Harris, the Tribune reported. Harris is the first Blagovich insider to formally agree to testify for the government, the Tribune said.
