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American lawyer (1957–2024) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Katherine Crane Byrne (December 31, 1957 – August 8, 2024) was an American lawyer. She worked at a Chicago-based law firm, became involved in politics, and president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
Kathy Byrne | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Katherine Crane Byrne December 31, 1957 |
| Died | August 8, 2024 (aged 66) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education | Saint Mary's College Loyola University Chicago |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Years active | 1988–2024 |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Jane Byrne (mother) Jay McMullen (stepfather) |
Byrne was born on December 31, 1957, to William and Jane Byrne.[1] Her mother later became a politician and her father was a marine pilot who died in a crash while in route to Naval Air Station Glenview when she was eighteen months old.[1][2] She was raised in Sauganash, Chicago where she lived with her mother and grandparents.[1] Byrne was an editor of her high school newspaper and initially wanted to be a political journalist.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Saint Mary's College.[2] Her mother later remarried to political journalist Jay McMullen.[3] In October 1978, she was hired through her mother, who by then was mayor of Chicago, to work in a public relations job at the Chicago Transit Authority making US$17,500 (equivalent to $73,466 in 2023).[2] She left the position after ten months.[2] Byrne completed a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1988.[1]
Byrne joined Cooney & Conway as a law clerk on the day she passed the Illinois Bar Examination in 1988.[4] She worked there as a trial attorney for over 35 years.[1] Byrne specialized in asbestos law.[1] She co-chaired Susana Mendoza's campaign during the 2019 Chicago mayoral election.[5] She fundraised for Joe Biden's 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns.[5] On June 9, 2023, Byrne became the second woman to serve as president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.[1][6]
Byrne died of lung cancer at the Rush University Medical Center, on August 8, 2024, at the age of 66.[7]
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