Cook County Medical Examiner

{{short description|Position of county coroner for Cook County, Illinois}}

The Cook County Medical Examiner is the coroner of Cook County, Illinois. Occupants are credential medical examiners, appointed by president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, subject to confirmation by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. The office was created in 1976, replacing the previous office of Cook County Coroner.

The office of Cook County Coroner existed from 1831 to 1976, and from 1836 was an elected position. County voters, in 1972, elected to replace the office of coroner with the current office of medical examiner.

Former position of Cook County Coroner

{{Infobox Political post

| post = Cook County Coroner

| insignia =

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| formation = April 1831

| abolished = December 6, 1976

| succession =

| inaugural = John Kinzie Clark

| last = Andrew J. Toman

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}}

The Cook County Coroner was the coroner of Cook County, Illinois until the position was abolished in 1976. The office of existed as an elected position from the early history of Cook County's government until its abolition in 1976.

The first Coroner of Cook County was John Kinzie Clark, who was appointed in April 1831. The first elected coroner, Orsemus Morrison, assumed office in 1836.

From the inception, the coroner's office was a department riddled with patronage and corruption. Ernst Schmidt, elected in 1862, resigned due to protest of interference with his job in January 1864.{{cite book |last=Bonner |first=Thomas Neville |author-link= |date=1991 |title=Medicine in Chicago, 1850-1950: A Chapter in the Social and Scientific Development of a City |url= |location= |publisher=University of Illinois Press |page=178 |isbn= 0252017609}} In its later years, occupants of the office and their inquest jurors often acted a rubber-stamp to the findings of the police and prosecutors.

In 1972, Cook County voters strongly voted by referendum in favor of eliminating the elected position of county coroner, replacing it with an appointed medical examiner.{{cite web |last1=Dardick |first1=Hal |title=Cook County voters to decide fate of recorder of deeds office |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-cook-county-recorder-of-deeds-referendum-met-1103-20161104-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=5 November 2020 |date=4 November 2016}}{{cite web |title=Medical Examiner {{!}} CookCountyIL.gov |url=https://www.cookcountyil.gov/agency/medical-examiner |website=www.cookcountyil.gov |access-date=23 December 2020}} Several notable incidents which took place in the 1960s spurred this This was the last time that voters in Cook County would vote on whether to eliminate an office until 2016, when they voted to eliminate the office of Cook County Recorder of Deeds and merge its duties into the Cook County Clerk's office. The office was eliminated on December 6, 1976. It was replaced by the appointed position of Cook County Medical Examiner.

=List of Cook County Coroners=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! colspan="2" |Clerk

! scope="col" |Term in office

! scope="col" |Party

! scope="col" |Notes

! scope="col" |Cite

style="height:2em;"

| File:John K. Clark Portrait.png

! John Kinzie Clark

| 1831–1832

| {{cite web |title=Officers of Cook County The Names of Officer-Holders from the Beginning |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/353914470 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=5 February 2025 |language=en |date=December 12, 1867}}

style="height:2em;"

| File:Elijah Wentworth Portrait.png

! Elijah Wentworth

| 1832–1834

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! Ashbel Steele

| 1836–1838

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| File:Orsemus Morrison (1) (a).png

! Orsemus Morrison

| 1836–1838

| Democratic

| First elected Coroner

| {{cite web |title=A History of the City of Chicago: Its Men and Institutions. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8wsAQAAMAAJ |publisher=Inter ocean |access-date=31 May 2020 |pages=440–441 |language=en |date=1900}}{{cite web |last1=Tassava |first1=Christopher James |title=Cook County Morgue |url=https://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/337.html |website=Encyclopedia of Chicago |publisher=Chicago History Museum and the Newberry Library |access-date=28 April 2022 |date=2005}}{{cite book |title=History of Cook County, Illinois: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time |date=1884 |publisher=A.T. Andreas |page=352 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=V_A1AQAAMAAJ&q=n.b.+boyden+coroner|language=en}}

style="height:2em;"

! John K. Boyer

| 1838–1840

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! Edward Murphy

| 1840–1844

| Elected in 1840 and 1842

style="height:2em;"

| 133x133px

! Orson Smith

| 1844–1846

style="height:2em;"

! Patrick Kelley

| 1846–1848

style="height:2em;"

! Nicholas Burdell

| 1848–1852

| Elected in 1848 and 1850

style="height:2em;"

! Austin Hines

| 1852–1854

style="height:2em;"

! James S. Beach

| 1854–1856

| Simultaneously ex officio Sheriff of Cook County, April 1855 – November 1856

style="height:2em;"

! George P. Hansen

| 1856–1858

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! William James

| 1858–1862

| Elected in 1858 and 1860

style="height:2em;"

| File:Ernst Schmidt Portrait.png

! Ernst Schmidt

| 1862–1864

| Resigned in January 1864

style="height:2em;"

| File:William Wagner Portrait.png

! William Wagner

| 1864–1869

| Republican

| Elected in 1864 and 1865

| {{cite book |author= |date=1922 |title=History of Medicine and Surgery, and Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HWVVAAAAYAAJ&q=cook+county+coroner+1868|location= |publisher=Biographical Publishing Corporation |page=69 |isbn=}}

style="height:2em;"

! Benjamin L. Cleaves

| 1869–1870

| Simultaneously ex officio Sheriff of Cook County, April 1870 – November 1870

| {{cite book |title= Fergus' Historical Series, Issues 1-10 |date=1876 |publisher=Fergus Printing Company |page=598 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vfA_AAAAYAAJ&q=david+hammond+cook+county+sheriff|language=en}}

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! John Stephens

| 1870–1874

| Republican

| Elected in 1870 and 1872

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| File:Dietzsch-Portrait (cropped).jpg

! Emil Dietzsch

| 1874–1878

| Republican

| Elected in 1874 and 1876

style="height:2em;"

| File:Orrin Mann Portrait.png

! Orrin L. Mann

| 1878–1880

| Republican

| Elected in 1878

| {{cite web |title=The KNETCH MURDER |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/349571226 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=9 Nov 1878}}{{cite web |title=THE CITY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/349581078 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=11 Dec 1878}}{{cite web |title=GENERAL O. L. MANN |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/34839971 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Inter Ocean (Chicago) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=1 Nov 1880}}{{cite web |title=LOCAL POLITICS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/32560507 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Inter Ocean (Chicago) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=16 Oct 1878}}

style="height:2em;"

| File:Canute Matson.jpg

! Canute R. Matson

| 1880–1882

| Republican

| Elected in 1880

| {{cite book|url=|title= Canute R. Matson |publisher= The Milton College Review, 1902, Volumes 4-5, page 17 |author= Students of Milton College }}{{cite web|url= http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/mathewson-matthaei.html|title= Canute R. Matson|publisher= Political Graveyard|access-date=September 1, 2015}}{{cite web |title=LOCAL POLITICS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/349508579 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=6 Oct 1880}}{{cite web |title=THE CITY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/349818039 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=28 Dec 1882}}

style="height:2em;"

! N.B. Boyden

| 1882–1885

| Democratic

style="height:2em;"

| File:Henry Hertz Portrait.png

! Henry L. Hertz

| 1885–1892

| Republican

| Elected in 1884, 1886, 1888, 1890

| {{cite web |title=THE CITY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/349754583 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=9 Dec 1884}}{{cite web |title=FIFER's VICTORY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/34359961 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Inter Ocean (Chicago) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=29 Apr 1892}}{{cite web |title=Both Reports Laid Over |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/349879932 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=21 Dec 1892}}{{cite web |title=Hard On Hertz |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/49707630 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Appeal (Saint Paul, Minnesota) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=20 Oct 1888}}

! James McHale

| 1892−1896

| Democratic (switched to People's Party while in office)

| Elected in 1892; defeated for reelection in 1896

| {{cite web |title=Wants Hertz's Job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/33772099 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Inter Ocean (Chicago) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=7 Nov 1892}}{{cite web |title=Counting the Votes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/349879499 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=19 Nov 1892}}{{cite web |title=Chicago Is In Line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/668089489 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Chicago Chronicle |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=4 Nov 1896}}

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! George Berz

| 1896–1900

| Republican

| Elected in 1896; defeated for reelection in 1900

| {{cite web |title=FIND ERRORS IN COUNT |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/349856049 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=15 Nov 1896 |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=15 Nov 1896}}{{cite web |title=COOK M'KINLEY'S BY 17,835 VOTES |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/350275958 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=8 Nov 1900}}

style="height:2em;"

| File:John E Traeger Portrait.png

! John E. Traeger

| 1900–1904

| Democratic

| Elected in 1904; defeated for reelection in 1904

| {{cite web |title=FIGHT ON COUNTY TICKETS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/350275470 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=6 Nov 1904}}

style="height:2em;"

| File:Peter M. Hoffman (a) (1).jpg

! Peter M. Hoffman

| 1904–1922

| Republican

| Elected in 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, and 1920; resigned to assume office as Cook County sheriff

| {{cite web |title=OFFICIAL FIGURES ON GENERAL ELECTION IN COOK COUNTY: TOTAL VOTE OF STATE ON PRESIDENT AND OTHER OFFICERS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/350278236 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=27 Nov 1904}}{{cite web |title=STEVENSON'S County PLURALITY IS 1,397 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/34563916 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Inter Ocean (Chicago) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=5 Nov 1908}}{{cite web |title=BARTZEN BEATED; M'CORMICK WINS BY 12,940 VOTES |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/34630275 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Inter Ocean (Chicago) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=7 Nov 1912}}{{cite web |title=EIGHT COUNTY OFFICIALS GO ON THE JOB TODAY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/77858419 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Day Book (Chicago) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=4 Dec 1916}}{{cite web |title=COUNTY G.O.P. SLATE ROMPS IN 200,000 VICTOR |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/355196301 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=3 Nov 1920}}

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| File:Oscar Wolff (1).jpg

! Oscar Wolff

| December 4, 1922–December 1928

| Republican

| Appointed by Cook County Board of Commissioners on December 4, 1922; elected in 1923 and 1924

| {{cite web |last=Brown |first=Parke |title=RAISE PROTEST AGAINST WOLFF AS NEW CORONER |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/355236018 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=5 Dec 1922}}{{cite web |title=MARY BARTELME ONE OF WINNERS; PARTIES DIVIDE POSITIONS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/493233 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Forest Park Review (Forest Park, Illinois) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=10 Nov 1923}}

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| File:Herman Bundesen 1925 (1).jpg

! Herman Bundesen

| December 1928–November 18, 1931

| Democratic

| Elected in 1928; resigned to become Chicago City Health Commissioner

| {{cite web |title=Bundesen, Herman Niels (1882-1960), physician, author, and politician |url=https://www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-0600075 |website=American National Biography |year=2000 |access-date=January 2, 2021 |language=en |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0600075|last1=Biles |first1=Roger |isbn=978-0-19-860669-7 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66469001/|access-date=December 30, 2020|work=DuPage County Register|date=November 9, 1928|title=Independent Voters Score Big Victory|page=1|via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |title=Chicago Daily Illini, Nov 18, 1931, p. 1 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/chicago-daily-illini-nov-18-1931-p-1/ |website=NewspaperArchive.com |publisher=Chicago Daily Illini |language=en |date=November 18, 1931}}

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! Frank J. Walsh

| November 18, 1931 – February 12, 1940

| Democratic

| Appointed by Cook County Board of Commissioners on November 18, 1931; elected in 1932 and 1938; died in office

| {{cite web |title=COL. A. L. BRODIE, PARK SECRETARY, NAMED CORONER |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/350225240 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=15 Feb 1940}}{{cite web |title=DEMOCRATS GAINERS BY 'REVOLUTION' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/37016272/ |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Palatine Enterprise |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=11 Nov 1932}}{{cite web |title=COURTNEY LEADS DEMOCRATS TO A COUNTY VICTORY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/354972620 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=9 Nov 1932}}

style="height:2em;"

! A. L. Brodie

| February 14, 1940–December 1952

| Democratic

| Appointed by Cook County Board of Commissioners on February 14, 1940; elected in 1940, 1944, and 1948

| {{cite web |title=Leaders in County Contests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/370494075 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=6 Nov 1940}}{{cite web |title=All Democrats Far Ahead in County Races |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/372424862 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher= Chicago Tribune|access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=8 Nov 1944}}{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Robert |title=BOYLE PLEDGES TO START HIS WAR ON CRIME |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/370302020 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=4 Nov 1948}}

style="height:2em;"

! Walter McCarron

| December 1952–December 1960

| Republican

| Elected in 1952 and 1958; defeated for reelection in 1960

| {{cite web |title=Dr. Toman Wins Coroner Job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/524262414 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Berwyn Life (Berwyn, Illinois) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=11 Nov 1960}}{{cite web |title=Walter McCarron, 85, former county coroner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/388447525 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=27 Sep 1985}}

style="height:2em;"

! Andrew J. Toman

| December 1960–December 1, 1976

| Democratic

| {{cite web |last1=Unger |first1=Rudolph |title=Coroner office 'dies' on Dec. 5 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/383945578 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=3 Nov 1976}}{{cite web |title=County Morgue Changes Name, System Focus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/74575702 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Arlington Heights Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois) |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=7 Dec 1976}}{{cite web |title=Here Are Contenders for Top State, County Offices |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/374725751 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=9 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=29 Oct 1960}}

Cook County Medical Examiner (since 1976)

The medical examiner and medical examiner's office took over the duties of the coroner and coroner's duty in 1976. The occupant of the office is a credentialed medical examiner. The office is appointed, rather than elected, with the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners nominating appointees, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners confirming them.{{cite web |last1=Ford |first1=Quinn |title=Preckwinkle appoints new medical examiner |url=https://www.wbez.org/stories/preckwinkle-appoints-new-cook-county-medical-examiner/17c9d29b-e959-4b94-b826-63cf0f2ff44d |website=WBEZ Chicago |access-date=28 April 2022 |language=en |date=10 July 2012}}

By the turn of the 21st century, the medical examiner's office was tasked with investigating roughly 5,000 deaths annually.

The medical examiner's office is located on the West Side of Chicago.