Terence F. MacCarthy

Terence F. MacCarthy has been the executive director of the Federal Defender Program in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois for more than 40 years. He was selected for this position in 1966 by the judges of the United States District Court and the deans of the six Chicago law schools. The office is frequently mentioned as being one of the best defender offices in the country. In addition to his overall administrative responsibilities, MacCarthy continues to personally try cases and to train and assist his staff of 20 attorneys.

He received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Joseph's College in 1955, and a J.D. from DePaul Law School in 1960. He was a law clerk to former Chief Judge William J. Campbell of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He also served for several years as an Illinois special assistant attorney general, specializing in civil trials and appeals. His most notable success was winning back Kaskaskia, Illinois' original capital, from Missouri. MacCarthy has been active principally in the field of trial practice, in both criminal and civil matters. He has argued in the United States Supreme Court. His criminal experience is primarily in the federal courts where he has tried and appealed many cases, and worked with his staff attorneys in preparing and trying additional cases. MacCarthy is one of the nation's most sought-after speakers at continuing legal education programs, having lectured in all 50 states and more than a dozen foreign countries.

He has received numerous awards, including special awards from both his undergraduate college and his law school. He received the University of Virginia Justice William Brennan Award, the Harrison Tweed Special Merit Award from the ABA and NLADA's Reginald Heber Smith Award. He has also received awards from, among other organizations, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, both the California and Illinois Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the ACLU, the National College of Criminal Defense, the Illinois State's Attorneys Association, the U.S. Army Trial Defense Services and the U.S.O. During the year 2000, he received the Defender of the Century from the Federal Defenders Association, the Inns of Court Professionalism Award from the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the Charles English Award from the ABA Criminal Justice Section. In 2002, he received the Laureate Award of the Illinois State Bar Association. In 2004, he received the Public Interest Award for Excellence from the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the United Stated District Court of Illinois. In 2006, he received the First Defender Award from First Defense Legal Aid. In July 2007, he received from Northwestern University School of Law an award for his dedication to continuing legal education and his long-standing annual commitment to the short course programs. In August 2007, his long-awaited book MacCarthy on Cross-Examination was published by the American Bar Association. In October 2007, he received from St. Joseph's College the 2007 Alumni Achievement Award. In November 2007, Stetson University College of Law named him the first recipient of the Lifetime Excellence in Advocacy Award. In February 2008, NACDL honored him with its 2008 Champion of Justice Award.

A member of the ABA for more than 30 years, MacCarthy has chaired the Criminal Justice Section and has served on its council for more than 20 years, seven as a Section representative in the House of Delegates. He served on the board of governors from 1997-2000.