John C. Tucker, 1934-2010 Noted attorney took on Chicago's patronage system and quit law to be a writer

By Margaret Ramirez, Tribune reporter

Widely respected Chicago attorney John C. Tucker never fit the corporate mold and had no qualms about defending reputed mobsters as well as white collar executives.

As a lawyer and partner at Jenner & Block from 1958 to 1985, Mr. Tucker was involved in several high-profile criminal and civil cases. In 1969, he advised defense lawyers William Kunstler and Leonard Weinglass in the Chicago Seven Trial. Mr. Tucker also represented reputed gambling czars Dominic Cortina and Donald Angelini.

Colleagues said his most significant victory was the U.S. Supreme Court case Elrod v. Burns, which struck down Chicago's patronage system. Mr. Tucker helped win $1.2 million in back pay for Republican deputies fired when Democrat Richard Elrod became sheriff in 1970.