Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Joe Tybor

Posted in:

Illinois

* From Thom Serafin…

– Joseph Tybor, the longtime Chicago journalist and press secretary for the Illinois Supreme Court, died Saturday at his home in Countryside. He was 68.

Tybor’s 30-year journalism career included comprehensive coverage of a broad array of subjects, including the Vietnam War, Notre Dame football and his must-read “On the Law” column that ran weekly in the Chicago Tribune.

For the past decade and a half he was a diligent advocate for the Illinois Supreme Court and spearheaded key changes to the Open Meetings Act, which allowed cameras into Illinois courtrooms for the first time.

“His relationships with reporters and his love and passion for the law made him such an absolute great fit at the Supreme Court,” Tybor’s son, Adam Tybor, said. “He was amazing at his job - he fought for his beliefs.”

Tybor, who was born in Chicago and grew up on the near South Side, got his start at the Chicago bureau of The Associated Press in the late 1960s. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army and served from 1969-71. He continued reporting in the military and had an influential story about the transport of deadly nerve gas republished by the AP.

After his discharge, Tybor returned to the AP and began taking night classes to earn his law degree. He earned his Juris Doctor from DePaul in 1979, and two years later he was hired by former Chicago Tribune city editor Dick Ciccone to cover legal affairs.

“At the AP you cover a variety of things,” said Ciccone, who later served as the Tribune’s managing editor from 1982-95. “He could so easily move from a crime story to a weather story to a sports story. He was a very fast writer and very informed on a whole wide world of subjects.”

In 1986, the Tribune nominated Tybor for a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of Chicago’s criminal justice system, Adam Tybor said.

His weekly “On the Law” column was a must-read for attorneys, judges, litigants and the general public.

After several years on the legal affairs beat he transitioned to coverage of Notre Dame sports, where he flourished as the foremost authority of all things Fighting Irish. Soon after taking over the beat he started his own side publication, Irish Eyes, one of the earliest online destinations for sports information.

Irish Eyes was a subscriber-based, bulletin board-style site where Tybor published inside information about Notre Dame.

“We just found a letter from Lou Holtz,” Adam Tybor said, “saying ‘Joe Tybor would be the only person I would consider letting write a book about me.’”

After a decade on the Notre Dame beat and as the newspaper industry began to change, Tybor transitioned to a communications role with the Illinois Supreme Court.

He served as the Court’s press secretary until his death.

“Everyone who ever dealt with him regarded him as tough but fair,” Ciccone said.

Tybor was also a nature lover, an avid camper, canoer and paddler. He earned his instructor certification from the American Canoe Association at age 65.
Tybor is survived by his wife, Sandra; daughter, Sarah Clark; son, Adam Tybor; siblings Julia Moore, Donna Siedschlag and David Tybor. He had several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 3-9 p.m. Tuesday at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Mass will be held at St. Cletus Church, 600 W. 55th St., LaGrange, at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Block Integrative Cancer Center, Skokie, Ill., or the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.

* Joe and I talked often about his experience with his “Irish Eyes” site. He was a big help to me through the years and was a “hands down” winner of our 2012 Golden Horseshoe Award for best government spokesman…

The Supreme Court finally allowed cameras in the courtroom this year and Tybor has been everywhere working with media and judges to make the experiment work. He’s getting good coverage for the court, but also helped develop a working cameras policy in Illinois. No one else has had as much influence as a spokesman.

* From the Daily Law Bulletin…

His background in both journalism and the law made him a “logical choice” for the role of high court communications director, then-Chief Justice Charles E. Freeman said when it was announced Tybor would step into the role for retiring press secretary John Madigan.

“His ability to move comfortably in both the legal and journalistic world will better enable the court to help educate the public about its vital role in protecting the rights of citizens according to the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions and the court’s own precedent,” Freeman said at the time.

From there, Tybor spoke about any and all court-related issues, from obscure rule changes to annual budget requests from the legislature. He was also instrumental in more sweeping high court policies, such as the push to allow cameras into trial courts around the state.

“In one simple phrase, Joe did the heavy-lifting,” said Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, who worked extensively to promote the cameras in the courtroom initiative. “He really did a masterful job of researching other states and representing proposals to the Illinois Supreme Court. He was numero uno. He was the guy out in front.”

He cannot be replaced.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:30 am

Comments

Joe was a very good guy.

This wasn’t his department- but it does affect press and communications. It is time to bring the court’s website up to the 21st century. There should be online docket searches, and briefs and all orders should be available. The federal Courts implemented thait decades ago; the illinois Supreme Court should be able to do it now.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:38 am
Joe as a very special person. He should get a lot of credit for the steps the courts have taken to make proceedings more public. We pray for his family to have strength and comfort during these sad times.

Comment by Steve Brown Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:44 am
I first met Joe Tybor in 1984. He was working for the National Law Journal at the time and he wrote an article about the many different paths that law students could take to getting the first job as a lawyer. He told the story of my most unusual route to one of the very best law jobs in Chicago. We became friends. Through the years, whether at the NLJ or the Trib or with the Court, he remained a feisty, fun and fearless professional. He was an old school scribbler with a healthy dose of skepticism about the political system. He was also a great sports fan, having covered Notre Dame and having grown up a diehard Sox fan. He will be missed in very many ways by very many people.

As the old saying goes, a big tree has fallen and a giant hole has opened to the sky.

Comment by chiatty Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 8:57 am
I knew Joe. A good guy to work with - he will be missed. Condolences to his family.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:10 am
MrsJM says he was “a really good guy” (her highest degree of praise).

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 9:43 am
I knew Joe T from my days as a kid, growing up with his son Adam. He took us to multiple Notre Dame games and I experienced first hand the respect that all people there had for him. Such a sad loss for his family and all who knew him.

Comment by Happy Gun Owner Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:11 am
I worked closely with Joe for several years, when I was at the Law Bulletin covering the Illinois Supreme Court. Since I heard he died, I keep thinking of more and more “Joe” stories. The truth is a lot of people — and a lot of reporters, in particular — had Joe Tybor stories. He was intense and passionate and cared deeply about deeply important things, such as the role of the law and the media in shaping our society. But he had a wonderful sense of humor too. (One Joe story: I remember once he ended up on the TV news in Chicago, not as the Supreme Court spokesman, but as a proud Sox fan at Harry Caray’s. He made a quip about Sammy Sosa’s cork bat when the bar was preparing to destroy the Bartman ball. He worried he’d get in trouble with the court, but the justices, even the Cub fans, took it in stride.)

As a reporter, Joe was a wonderful and discerning storyteller. As a spokesman, he was a tireless and intelligent advocate. As a friend and a mentor, he was a wonderful and warm human being.

I honestly think that journalism and the state of Illinois are better off today because of Joe Tybor. May he rest in peace.

Comment by Dan Vock Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:39 am
A very important and smart person at what is an obscure place to most. the SC has lots of stats that are crucial to understanding the justice system and he had his hands all over all of it. condolences.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 11:52 am
Joe was one of a kind and a true public servant. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Comment by Ugh Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 12:27 pm
Joe was a class act and learned allot from him when at the SC.

Comment by fly on the wall Tuesday, Oct 13, 15 @ 4:57 pm
Joe was a great guy. He always believed in his mission and was loyal to the court. Not a phony bone in his body.The Court order cameras in the courtroom, and then it was up to Joe and his tireless efforts that made it a reality.
He was a reporter for almost three decades and was nominated for a Pulitzer;and went to law school at night; created in the early 90’s one of the first Blogs in history on line, about Notre Dame football, called Irish Eyes. He also covered college football and baseball for the Trib.
As his Mg. Editor Dick Ciccone said, he was tough but fair. And as the Illinois Supreme Court Spokesman, he never asked any more from any reporter.

‘Ugh’, ‘Dan Vock’ and ‘fly on the wall’ say it well.

Rest In Peace Joe.

Comment by thom Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:31 am